Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco Diamond Dons (13-14, 5-4 WCC) beat Saint Mary's (8-20, 2-4 WCC) Saturday, 5-4, in the rubber game of a West Coast Conference series.
The Dons were bolstered by outstanding defense and a pair of home runs in capturing their second series win of the year.
After falling behind 4-1 in the middle of the fifth inning, Dons shortstop
Josh Miller connected for a soaring three-run home run high up the netting in left field to tie the game at four.
Bradley Zimmer then put the Dons ahead for good in the sixth, hitting a line-drive home run over the right field fence, his team-high fourth home run of the season.
Zimmer also excelled defensively, making leaping catches high up the wall in right-center in the fifth and sixth innings to rob Gaels of extra base hits. After making the spectacular catch in the fifth inning, Zimmer fired a throw into second base to cut down the runner tagging from first to thwart a Saint Mary's threat.
Adam Cimber,
Bob Mott and
Andrew Pulido combined out of the bullpen for seven and two-thirds innings of relief. Cimber earned his first win of the season, and Pulido his first save.
“If you told me we would get seven innings out of our starters this series and would win two of three, I wouldn't have believed it,” said USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano. “It's a testament to our bullpen, with Haden's outing yesterday and Cimber and Bobb picking us up today. It was the team effort we were looking for, and if we can do this more often it's going to help us win some games.”
The Dons are back in action Wednesday at Sacramento State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Inside the Numbers
Bradley Zimmer has hit four of the Dons nine home runs this season.
Line of the Game
Josh Miller – 1-for-3, 3-run home run
Baseball vs Saint Mary's Gallery
