USF Falls to No. 8 San Diego 4-2 :: Dons Rally for Two in the Ninth; Railey Extends Hitting Streak

May 9, 2008

(San Francisco, CA) - San Francisco mounted a two out rally and senior second baseman Joey Railey extended his team leading hit streak to 14 games, but USF (29-23, 10-9 WCC) fell to No. 8 San Diego 4-2 on Friday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond. The Toreros (39-13, 16-3 WCC) capture a share of the West Coast Conference title with the victory.

Railey waited until the ninth inning to extend his streak, smashing a big two-RBI single down the left field line to cut the Toreros lead by two, 4-2. With two runners remaining on base, San Diego's sophomore closer, AJ Griffin, got freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game. Sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin and junior left fielder Zach Kim each singled to start the ninth, both scoring on Railey's single.

Lipkin and senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky led the Dons with two hits a piece. Railey, Kim, senior right fielder Kyle Morgan, and sophomore shortstop Derek Poppert each singled.

San Diego jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first off Dons junior left-hander Evan Fredrickson. With two on, senior second baseman Kevin Hanson doubled to left center, plating both base runners.

Fredrickson (5-3) settled down and didn't allow a run over the next five innings, and collected 11 strikeouts in his 6.0 inning appearance. The 11 strikeouts mark the third time this season Fredrickson has struck out double digit opponents. The Virginia Tech transfer took the loss, allowing four hits and six walks.

USF couldn't capitalize on nine runners left on base, including two each in the first, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. San Diego put up insurance runs in the seventh and the ninth. In the seventh, sophomore center fielder Kevin Muno homered to left off sophomore right-hander Alex Kalogrides (one earned run off three hits and three strikeouts in 2.0 innings). In the ninth, sophomore right fielder James Meador hit an RBI double down the left field line off freshman right-hander Sean Burns (one earned run off three hits, one strikeout in 1.0 inning).

San Diego's junior left-hander Brian Matusz (10-2) earned the victory, allowing two earned runs off seven hits, 14 strikeouts and no walks in 8.1 innings. Griffen earned his 13th save, giving up a hit and a walk in 0.2 innings of work.

USF hosts San Diego for game two of the three game WCC series tomorrow at Benedetti Diamond. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.