Box Score
COLUMBIA, Missouri – The University of San Francisco Diamond Dons (6-8) might have found something Saturday, as they scored five runs in the ninth inning after giving up the lead late to beat Missouri, 8-3.
After the Tigers (3-7) scored a pair of runs to tie the game at three in the eighth, USF mounted a five-run rally in the top of the ninth on RBIs from
Harrison Bruce,
Justin Maffei and
Bradley Zimmer in an inning that saw Maffei score on his own single.
For the third game in a row, the Dons scored a pair of runs in the first inning. Maffei blasted his second home run of the season, and an RBI single from
Derek Atkinson plated
Jason Mahood, who doubled.
Armed with an early lead, Dons starter
Alex Balog kept the Dons ahead, going seven innings allowing just one run and striking out nine. The junior has pitched seven innings in each of his four starts this season, including a pair of starts where he allowed one run or less but received a no-decision.
“Alex was great again today,” said USF Head Coach
Nino Giarratano. “He had a few hits, but he was devastating. It was great to see us answer back in the ninth with five runs. We had some really good at-bats today and Maffei and Mahood led by example at the top of the lineup. We had some really good swings today, and it was a good win for the team.”
Maffei, a preseason All-WCC selection who struggled to start the season ignited the Dons all afternoon, providing highlights with his home run and 360-foot sprint around the bases on a single and error in the eighth. Brendan Hendricks had a pair of hits and scored twice for a USF team that pounded out 12 hits, its second-highest total this season.
Haden Hinkle (3-0) pitched the last two innings for the win, his third of the season.
Due to weather concerns, tomorrow's game time has been moved to a 10 a.m. PDT start. The audio broadcast will be available at USFDons.com.
Inside the Numbers
Alex Balog has gone seven innings in each of his four starts this season.
Line of the Game
Justin Maffei – 3-for-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, home run
