Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Abe Bobb was masterful in his second straight start, throwing seven shutout innings to lead San Francisco to another 3-1 victory over Missouri at Benedetti Diamond on a chilly Saturday afternoon. Bobb (2-0) scattered four hits while striking out five and walking none. Bobb, just like Kyle Zimmer yesterday, didn't allow a walk and has only surrendered one free pass this season in 14 innings of work. The Denver, Colorado native lowered his season ERA to a pristine 0.64.
"It was great to pitch at home in front of our fans," Bobb said. "It was a fun and exciting atmosphere this afternoon and I got a lot of first pitch strikes, which is key for me. It puts the hitter on the defensive and helps to keep my defense behind me in the game and on their toes."
San Francisco (3-2, 0-0 WCC) won their second straight game over Missouri (2-3, 0-0 Big 12) by a score of 3-1, and have assured themselves a series victory at home, their first of the year.
Both Bobb and Missouri starter Rob Zastryzny (0-1) matched zeros for the first three frames, getting first pitch strikes and retiring hitters with ease. Bobb and Zastrynzy mixed locations and speeds beautifully to confuse hitters for the majority of the day.
The first run of the game wouldn't come until the bottom of the fourth when catcher Mason Morioka hit a mammoth solo home run off the netting in left field, which encapsulates and surrounds the outfield perimeter of Benedetti Diamond. Morioka's towering shot, his second-ever collegiate home run, hit 60 feet up on the netting and would have easily landed on Golden Gate Avenue if the netting had not stopped it. The blast gave the Dons a 1-0 lead and they wouldn't look back from there.
"Coach Giarratano gave a message to the team in between innings to take away Zastryzny's fastball," Morioka said. "I took the message to heart and planted my foot early and put a good swing on the ball."
Morioka had gone three years at USF without a home run, but now has two in just five games in the 2012 season. When asked what Morioka attributes his recent power surge to, the senior backstop responded, "It's a result of all the hard work I put in in the offseason during summer ball. My body is in great shape and I have more endurance and strength than ever."
The Dons tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to lengthen their lead to 3-0. An RBI fielder's choice from Aritz Garcia and a sacrifice fly in the sixth off the bat of first baseman Tom Barry, gave the Dons all the runs they would need on Saturday.
An RBI ground out from Tigers right fielder Blake Brown scored the first Missouri run, but reliever Cameron Love limited the damage to maintain a two-run cushion, 3-1. Left fielder Ted LeMasters completed a gorgeous double play to end the inning, as he caught a fly out and rifled a one hop seed to Morioka to gun down Dillon Everett at the plate.
Elliott Waterman retired Missouri in order in the top of the ninth to earn his second save of the year.
USF returns to action tomorrow at 1:00 pm as they try to sweep the Missouri Tigers in the final game of the three-game set. Freshman Christian Cecilio squares off against Tigers starter Jeff Cline in the Sunday finale.
