Win Streak Extended To Seven; Diamond Dons Defeat Saint Mary's 2-0 :: Spectacular Defense and Timely Hitting Give USF The Win

March 28, 2008

(Moraga, CA) - In a game that can only be considered a pitching and defensive duel, San Francisco came out on top, 2-0 over Saint Mary's in West Coast Conference opening play at Luis Guisto Field on Friday afternoon. The Dons (15-10, 1-0 WCC) earn their seventh straight victory and ruin a very good outing by Gaels (13-9, 0-1 WCC) junior right-hander Brian Justice (2-1), who threw a complete game in the loss.

No one broke through on the board until the Dons pushed a run across in the sixth. With two outs - which seems to be a theme for the Dons as of late - senior right fielder Kyle Morgan doubled to right and scored on senior first baseman/right-handed pitcher Mitchell Bialosky's single.

USF added an insurance run in the next frame. Sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin doubled to begin the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch. Junior third baseman Dane Braunecker singled up the middle, plating Lipkin.

Lipkin and Braunecker led the Dons with two hits a piece. Morgan, Bialosky, and junior designated hitter Drew Johnson each had one. Lipkin and Bialosky had RBI's in the contest.

Several Dons players also saved numerous runs with spectacular fielding plays. In the second inning, the Gaels were threatening with two outs and runners on the corners. SMC's senior right fielder Kenny Fuglerud smashed a big fly out to the middle of nowhere in right center field and a speeding Morgan managed to snag it by laying himself out and ending the inning. In the fourth, again with two outs and with runners on second and third, Bialosky saved not only a run, but also his head, as a line drive was pounded down the line. Lastly, in the seventh, with one out and runners again on the corners, Gaels junior center fielder Cory Miller hit a little ground ball to first. A charging Stephen Yarrow (in his first game as a Don) picked up the ball and made the smart decision to throw out the runner at home.

Bialosky (1-3) had a big day in Moraga. Besides batting in the winning run, he also earned the win on the mound. In a relief outing, Bialosky threw the final 5.0 innings, not allowing a run, off five hits, one walk, and struck out four Gaels. Freshman right-hander Chase Tigert, on a pitch count, threw the first 4.0 innings, not allowing a run off five hits, one walk, and struck out one.

Justice took the loss, but threw what would otherwise have been a gem. In 9.0 innings, he allowed just two earned runs off seven hits, two walks, and struck out four.

In their last seven games, the Dons are batting .356 as a team and the pitching staff has an ERA of just 2.71 and opponents are batting a low .201. USF and Saint Mary's play game two of the three game series tomorrow at Luis Guisto Field. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.