Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO – As the drama of the West Coast Conference playoff race intensifies heading into the last weeks of the season, the San Francisco Dons brought home a non-conference win against San Jose State Tuesday that had all the excitement of a Hollywood thriller, as USF hit three ninth-inning home runs to beat the Spartans, 4-2, at Benedetti Diamond.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, and managing just four hits through eight innings, the Dons got one-out, solo home runs from pinch-hitter
Bob Mott and centerfielder
Justin Maffei to tie the game. After a perfect bunt hit from
Jason Mahood and a fly out from
Bradley Zimmer, Zachary Turner stepped to the plate and had another big hit for the Dons, hitting a two-run home run to right-center field to give USF a thrilling win.
Turner drove in his 45
th and 46
th runs of the season with the blast, momentarily tying San Diego's Kris Bryant for the conference lead. His ability to stay consistent in his approach throughout the season has played a role in his ability to produce at a high level.
“I'm just trying to stay in the center of the field there and extend the inning,” said Turner. “He left a fastball up and away and I was lucky enough to get that one out and win the game.”
USF tied a season-high for long balls, and hit three out in an inning for the first time in recent memory. Mott's home run was his first of the year, Maffei's his fourth, and Turner's his seventh, tying him with Zimmer for third in the WCC.
Turner also extended his team-best hit streak to 16 with the long ball, having gone 0-for-2 with a walk heading into his final at bat.
“We pitched well today but it took the offense a while to get it going,” said USF head coach
Nino Giarratano. “
Bob Mott had a big swing in the ninth for us, Maffei was able to tie it up, and then after a perfect bunt from Mahood, Turner comes through like he has all season. Winning this game keeps our momentum going from the weekend and hopefully we can take that into the series with Pepperdine this weekend.”
After playing five games in five days, and winning, four, the Dons will take two much needed days off before hosting Pepperdine this weekend.
Inside the Numbers
The Dons matched their four hits through eight innings with four in the ninth, three on home runs. The comeback marks the biggest deficit the Dons have overcome in their final at bat this year.
Line of the Game
Bob Mott – 1-for-1, home run, RBI
Justin Maffei – 3-for-5, home run, RBI
Zachary Turner – 1-for-3, home run, 2 RBIs
