April 8, 2008

Final Stats

(San Jose, CA) - San Francisco came back from a 2-0 deficit to earn the 4-2 victory over San Jose State on Tuesday night at Municipal Stadium. The win is USF's (21-11) sixth in a row, but first over the Spartan's (15-14) since a 7-3 win on March 15, 2005.

Junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson (4-2) overcame a shaky start in which he gave up four walks, two doubles, two runs and hit a batter, all in the first three innings. His defense saved him throughout the game, making three double plays. For the night, Fredrickson allowed just two hits and two runs and struck out six in 8.0 innings.

Senior Mitchell Bialosky earned the save (2), moving from first base to the mound to throw a perfect ninth with a strikeout.

Down 2-0 going into the fourth, USF struck back and scored two of its own to tie the ballgame. With two outs and sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert on second base, freshman designated hitter Stephen Yarrow walked. Bialosky singled up the middle, scoring Poppert. Yarrow then scored when senior shortstop Tavo Hall singled down the left field line.

USF added insurance runs in the fifth and seventh. In the fifth, freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz hit a screamer to the pitcher, Max Peterson, who literally threw his glove at the ball while trying to get out of its path. Senior right fielder Kyle Morgan hit another ball to Peterson, who was able to grab it this time, but threw it into center field when trying to force out Bernatz at second. Bernatz moved to third on the play, and scored on Poppert's sacrifice fly to left center.

In the seventh, sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin started off the inning with a single to left and moved to second on junior left fielder Zach Kim's single up the middle. An out later, Bialosky singled to right, scoring Lipkin.

Bernatz went 3-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Lipkin went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Bialosky had two hits and two RBI and Hall also had two hits, an RBI and two stolen bases. Kim was 2-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt, while Poppert had a hit, an RBI and a run scored. Morgan rounded out the 13 hits for the Dons.

Peterson (2-4) took the loss for SJSU, giving up one run (unearned) in less than an inning of relief. Anthony Vega started for the Spartans, not allowing a run off two hits, a walk, and two strikeouts in 3.0 innings.

USF travels to Malibu for a three game West Coast Conference set with No. 9 Pepperdine this weekend. Friday's game is set to begin at 3:00 PM.

GAME NOTES: The win is the sixth in a row for the Dons and they have won 13 of their last 14.