University of San Francisco Athletics

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Game Nos. 22-23
San Francisco Dons (11-10, 2-4 WCC) vs. No. 11 Oregon Ducks (17-5, 5-1 Pac-12)
Date: Mar. 25, 2 p.m.; Mar. 26, 2 p.m.
Location: Benedetti Diamond
Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-Play: Max Harris)
 
Game Nos. 24-26
San Francisco Dons vs. San Diego Toreros (15-8, 4-2 WCC)
Date: Mar. 28, 3 p.m.; Mar. 29, 1 p.m.; Mar. 30, 1 p.m.
Location: Benedetti Diamond
 Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-Play: Max Harris (Fri.), Pat Olson (Sat.-Sun.))

2014 SCHEDULE
2014 ROSTER
 
GAME NOTES – Oregon/San Diego
TICKETS
 
SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons rebound well this past week and picked up their first West Coast Conference series win over BYU. This week will be a much tougher task as they face two of the best teams in the country.
 
San Francisco (11-10) will take on No. 9 Oregon on Tuesday and Wednesday before taking on conference powerhouse San Diego over the weekend.
 
Probable starters:
TUESDAY: Sheldon Lee (1-0, 7.20 ERA)
WEDNESDAY: Jordan Haseltine (0-0, 1.42)
FRIDAY: Abe Bobb (2-2, 5.40)
SATURDAY: TBD
SUNDAY: Grant Goodman (2-2, 3.04)
 
The Dons did not struggle for runs against BYU. They scored 18 runs in the three game series but found difficulties limiting BYU's chances. BYU scored seven runs on Friday and Saturday and 12 of the 14 runs came off of Dons starters Abe Bobb and Christian Cecilio.
 
However, the bullpens remained strong as they allowed two runs in 11.2 innings of work while picking up a win and a save against BYU.
 
ZIMMER ON FIRE
Bradley Zimmer has been on a tear since the beginning of WCC play. In his six conference games, he is hitting .565 with two home runs, a triple and seven RBI to go along with six stolen bases. He is also carrying a 1.572 OPS against conference foes.
 
GET 'EM TO THE SIXTH
The Dons are 10-0 in games where they either lead or are tied going into the sixth inning this season. This is primarily due to the performance of the bullpen. The Dons have gone to Ben Graff, Mack Meyer, Brock Larson, Jordan Haseltine and Houston Hibberd most often and the five have combined to throw 57.2 innings and carry an ERA of 1.87. Hibberd has been near untouchable with a 1.33 ERA and leads the team in wins (3) and saves (3). He is one of eight players in the nation to lead his team in both categories.
 
GRANT'S GOOD-IES
Grant Goodman picked up his second win of the season against BYU on Saturday at AT&T Park. He went six innings and gave up two unearned runs in the effort. It was his third weekend start and he picked up his first win against Tulane when he threw eight shutout innings, striking out seven and gave up two hits.
 
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Bradley Zimmer was named to three All-America first teams in the preseason, including the Louisville Slugger and Baseball America teams. The junior hit .320 with seven home runs and 37 RBI last season and went onto play for the USA National Collegiate Team and Cotuit Keetleers of the Cape Cod League over the summer.
 
GIARRATANO LEGACY
Head coach Nino Giarratano enters his 16th season at the helm of the USF baseball team and is the winningest coach in the program's history with 443. He is also the third winningest coach in WCC history, behind John Cunningham (USD, 524) and current San Diego coach Rich Hill (657). With the win over Kansas State on Feb. 18, Giarratano passed Santa Clara's John Oldman for third on that list (433).
 
ABOUT OREGON
Oregon comes in on fire as they have won their last five games in Pac-12 play. The Ducks have allowed no more than two runs in any of those games and it includes two wins by freshman Matt Krook, who was teammates with Nico Giarratano at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco. The Ducks will go with Porter Clayton and Brando Tessar. The two have combined to throw 17.2 innings with five earned runs. The Dons last faced Oregon in the NCAA Regionals last season and were eliminated by the Ducks 6-1.
 
ABOUT SAN DIEGO
The Toreros have slumped of late, dropping four of their last five, but they are not to be taken lightly. The defending WCC tournament champions have gotten off to a strong start to the season with wins over Oklahoma State, Baylor and Cal State Fullerton. San Diego will go with a trio of lefties against the Dons. The Saturday starter, Troy Conyers, outdueled Christian Cecilio and shutout USF in the WCC championship game as he threw a complete game while striking out nine.