USF Baseball Drops 5-2 Decision to Portland :: Dons' Rally in the Ninth Falls Short

April 26, 2008

(San Francisco, CA) - San Francisco rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, but couldn't come all the way back from a 5-0 deficit, and fall 5-2 to West Coast Conference rival Portland (18-24, 3-11 WCC) on Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond. The Dons (24-19, 7-7 WCC) drop their first conference decision at home (4-1), and just their second overall at Benedetti Diamond (12-2).

Down 5-0 going into the ninth, USF rallied to ruin the shutout for Pilots left-handed starter Ari Ronick. Junior designated hitter Zach Kim doubled to start the inning. After Ronick gave way to freshman right-hander Zach Varce, sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel struck out and senior pinch hitter Matt Lieb walked. Senior shortstop Tavo Hall then hit his team leading 13th double to score Kim. Lieb then scored on senior second baseman Joey Railey's sacrifice fly to center. Vance struck out freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz to end the ball game.

Ronick (4-5) threw a gem, not allowing a run until the ninth and battling out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth. For the game, Ronick allowed on earned run off five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. Varce held the Dons to just one earned run off one hit, one walk, and struck out two in the ninth.

Senior left-hander Matt Baugh (5-3) took the loss for USF, allowing four earned runs off seven hits, two walks, and struck out seven Pilots in 8.0 innings. Freshman right-hander Jonathan Abramson threw the ninth, allowing one earned run off two hits and one strikeout.

All of Portland's runs came off long balls from freshman shortstop Riley Henricks and senior center fielder Danny Meier. Henricks led off the first inning with a solo shot to deep left center field. In the third, Henricks hit his second homerun of the day, a two run shot to right field that hit off the scoreboard. Meier hit solo shots in the seventh (a lead off shot to right center) and in the ninth (another lead off shot, this time to left field).

USF just managed six hits on the day, and left nine runners on base. Kim was 2-3 with a double and a run scored. Hall doubled in a run. Lipkin doubled, while Railey and Morgan singled.

Portland returns to Benedetti Diamond for the rubber match, tomorrow at 1:00 PM.