Complete Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The race for the West Coast Conference Championship heats up this week, as the University of San Francisco and University of San Diego meet for a three-game series at Cunningham Stadium. The Dons (22-18) and Toreros (25-16) are in a four-way tie for second in the conference, with identical 9-6 WCC records.
San Diego, the preseason favorite to win the conference as voted on by the coaches, has won six of eight games, including a three-game sweep at Santa Clara last weekend. USF has dropped three in a row after an eight-game win streak.
Radio broadcasts for all game are available at USFDons.com/live
Pitching Probables
Friday (6 p.m.) –
Haden Hinkle (7-1, 1.37 ERA) vs. Michael Wagner (1-4, 4.25 ERA)
Saturday (6 p.m.) –
Alex Balog vs. Dylan Covey (3-3, 4.27 ERA)
Sunday (1 p.m.) –
Christian Cecilio vs. P.J. Conlon (6-0, 1.43 ERA)
DONS BRIEFS
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USF has won two West Coast Conference titles, in 2006 and 2011.
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Since 2006, the Dons have a 273-225 (.549) record.
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The Dons have won eight of their last 11, nine of 13 WCC games and 11 of 15.
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San Diego took two of three from the Dons in 2012, winning 6-1 and 11-5 before dropping the final game of the series, 1-0, at Benedetti Diamond. Abe Bobb threw 7.1 innings of four-hit ball to earn the win.
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Since 1985, San Diego leads the all-time series with USF, 70-46.
TRANSFER OF POWER - Junior
Zachary Turner swung a hot bat last week, going 8-for-20 with four runs and 10 RBIs. Turner smacked a double and two home runs in four games and started at first base Sunday for the first time this season.
SENIOR SPECIAL - Jason Mahood hit .474 last week (9-for-19), scoring six times and driving in a pair of runs. Mahood went 3-for-4 at California, before going 3-for-11 with three runs scored against LMU. Mahood stayed hot versus Sacramento State, goinf 3-for-4 with a run scored in the Dons loss.
BALOG'S BEST - Alex Balog set a season-high with 7.1 innings pitched Saturday. The junior also tied a season-high with nine strikeouts in the Dons 4-3 loss to LMU.
MIDDLE OF THE PACK - USF ranks seventh in the West Coast Conference with a .249 batting average. The Dons are third in doubles (70), home runs (18) and total bases (467). The Dons pitching staff ranks third in the conference in ERA (3.15), batting average against (.252) and runs allowed (152), and first in innings pitched (357.2) and walks allowed (97).
MOUND PRESENCE - Senior
Haden Hinkle is 7-1, with a 1.37 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched. Hinkle leads the West Coast Conference in ERA, is tied for first in wins, and is third in batting average against (.203) and ERA. Hinkle pitched 5.2 innings last week in two appearances, allowing six hits and one run while striking out seven.
