April 21, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

DONS PLAY FIVE GAMES IN SIX DAYS: USF (22-17, 6-6 WCC) is back home after a long six game road swing, hosting Sacramento State (19-18, 10-5 WAC) at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday at 2:00 PM. On Wednesday, they return to the road, meeting the Bulldogs (24-16, 13-3 WAC) in Fresno at 6:00 PM. For the weekend, USF hosts West Coast Conference rival Portland (17-23, 2-10 WCC) at Benedetti Diamond for three. Friday's contest will start at 3:00 PM, with both Saturday's and Sunday's games begining at 1:00 PM.

NEXT UP FOR THE DONS: USF has a reverse schedule next week, playing four on the road and one at home. On Tuesday (4/29) the Dons head to Stockton for a 6:35 PM meeting with the Pacific Tigers. They return home for one game, hosting Fresno State in the final meeting between the two teams. First pitch on Wednesday (4/30) is set for 3:00 PM. USF then hits the road again for a three game West Coast Conference set with Gonzaga in Spokane. Friday is set for a 6:30 PM start. Saturday's and Sunday's games will start at 1:00 PM.

SCOUTING REPORT - WEEK 10

GAME #40 -SACRAMENTO STATE HORNETS (19-18)

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets are currently just one game above .500 at 19-18 overall, but are tearing up the Western Athletic Conference at a 10-5 clip. Sac State is on a bit of a hot streak, winning four of five last week, and 14 of their last 18 after getting off to a 5-19 start to the season. Junior infielder Gabe Jacobo leads the Hornets at the dish, batting .393 (57-145) with 12 doubles, one triple, 12 homeruns and 44 RBI. On the mound, junior left-hander Jose Ramirez is 4-3, 4.35 ERA in nine starts (49.2 IP) with 36 strikeouts. Head Coach John Smith is 829-837 in 30 years at the helm in Sacramento

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008 SEASON STATS
Team	W-L	BA	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	BB 	ERA 	SO	OBA
USF 	22-17	.288 	239 	389 	17	221 	139  	4.78  244 	.274
SAC	19-18	.315	252	397	40	231	114	5.77  175	.313

LAST MEETINGS: USF 12, at Sac State 4 (2/26/08)

GAME #41 - FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS (24-16)

SCOUTING FRESNO STATE: Fresno State has been on a tear of late, winning 16 of their last 20 games after winning only eight of their first 20. Leading the Bulldogs at the plate is junior infielder Erik Wetzel who is batting .381 (59-155) with 10 doubles, one triple, one homerun, and 14 RBI. Senior outfielder Steve Susdorf is batting .368 (56-152) with 19 doubles, one triple, four homeruns and 48 RBI. Sophomore infielder Tommy Mendonca leads the Bulldogs with nine homeruns. On the mound, junior right-hander Justin Miller is an impressive 6-0, 2.30 ERA in 47.0 innings (13 appearances, eight starts), with 44 strikeouts and a .181 opponents batting average. Head coach Mike Batesol is 196-150 in six years at Fresno State, and 452-308-1 in his 13 year career.

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008 SEASON STATS
Team	W-L	BA	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	BB 	ERA 	SO	OBA
USF 	22-17	.288 	239 	389 	17	221 	139	4.78  244 	.274
FSU	24-16	.295	296	403	41	255	191	4.35  314	.254

LAST MEETINGS: at USF 13, FSU 8 (3/18/08)

GAME #42-44 -PORTLAND PILOTS (17-23, 2-10 WCC)

SCOUTING PORTLAND: After a six-win improvement last season over the previous season, the Pilots hope to continue the resurgence of baseball on The Bluff in 2008. With a deep pitching staff that's loaded with talent, head coach Chris Sperry says the Pilots are only a timely hit or two away from making another jump in the win column. The biggest challenge for the Pilots this season might be replacing pitchers Given Kutz and Chris Siegfried, who both left the program with a year of eligibility remaining. It's pitching that Sperry points to as one of the main keys to the 2008 season. Portland lowered its team earned run average by nearly two runs last season from 2006. 16 newcomers enter the mix, providing Portland with instant depth across the board. At the plate, freshman infielder Riley Henricks leads the Pilots with a .343 batting average (57-166) with 14 doubles, four triples, six homeruns and 22 RBI. On the mound, junior right-hander Mark Triolo is 4-4, 3.88 ERA, with 43 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. Head coach Chris Sperry is 192-383-1 in 11 years in Portland.

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008 SEASON STATS
Team	W-L	BA	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	BB 	ERA 	SO	OBA
USF 	22-17	.288 	239 	389 	17	221 	139  	4.78  244 	.274
POR	17-23	.260	189	368	29	167	147	5.07  263	.289

LAST MEETINGS: at Portland 5, USF 3 (4/20/07); at Portland 3, USF 1 (4/21/07); USF 8, at Portland 0 (4/22/07)

Joey Railey MOVES UP HITS CHART: Senior second baseman Joey Railey is known to get a lot of hits. With a team leading 46 on the season, Railey now has 207 for his career, good for 9th place all time. He needs five to pass Jason Howard (1998-03/211) for eighth place. Also, with 97 career walks, and counting, Railey is sixth all time on the walks chart. He needs just two more to pass John Mangiante (1980-83/98) for seventh place.

Connor Bernatz JUMPS INTO BATTING LEAD: After batting .375 (6-16) last week, freshman outfielder Connor Bernatz has taken over the batting lead at .371 (46-124). Bernatz has eight doubles, one triple, two homeruns,23 RBI, and three stolen bases.

Tavo Hall TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IN CONFERENCE: Senior shortstop Tavo Hall is playing exceptionally well in West Coast Conference games this season. Through 12 games, Hall is batting .342 (13-38) with a team leading seven doubles and 10 RBI. Overall, Hall is batting .250 (36-144) with 10 doubles, one homerun, 23 RBI and a team leading 11 stolen bases.

USF IN WEST COAST CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Ten Dons are among the top ten in 12 categories in the West Coast Conference. Freshman LHP Matt Lujan leads the way with three top ten spots (tied for second with one complete game, fifth with a 3.66 ERA, and 10th with an opponents batting average of .267)... Senior LHP Matt Baugh is first in innings pitched (71.0) and tied for first with two complete games... Junior LHP Evan Fredrickson is second in opponents batting average at .222 and third with 63 strikeouts... freshman LHP Garrett Luippold is tied for second with 19 appearances... senior RHP Mitchell Bialosky is tied for fourth with three saves... At the plate, sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin is eighth in on base percentage at .429, and 10th in batting average at .357... senior right fielder Kyle Morgan comes in at ninth in RBI (38), and tied for ninth in walks (21)... freshman outfielder Connor Bernatz is third in batting average (.371)... senior shortstop Tavo Hall is fourth with 11 stolen bases.... senior second baseman Joey Railey is tied for third with 25 walks.