University of San Francisco Athletics

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Game No. 27
San Francisco Dons (13-13, 3-6 WCC) at Sacramento State (16-11, 6-0 WAC)
Date: Apr. 2, 6:35 p.m.
Location: Raley Field (Sacramento, Calif.)
 
Game Nos. 28-30
San Francisco Dons at Loyola Marymount Lions (17-11, 7-2 WCC)
Date: Apr. 4, 6 p.m.; Apr. 5, 6 p.m.; Apr. 6, 1 p.m.
Location: Page Stadium (Los Angeles)

2014 SCHEDULE
2014 ROSTER
 
GAME NOTES – Sacramento State-Loyola Marymount
 
SAN FRANCISCO—Pitching has been inconsistent for the Dons in the last three weeks and it is how they find themselves in seven the place in the WCC. However, the season can be quickly turned around with a strong showing this week on the road against Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount.
 
San Francisco (13-13, 3-6 WCC) has dropped two of its first three series and has had difficulties keeping teams off the scoreboard. Over the weekend, San Diego scored 26 runs including a 15-run outburst on Friday. To the Dons' credit, they scored 20 runs in the three contests.
 
Probable starters:
TUESDAY: Matt Narahara (1-2, 5.68 ERA)
FRIDAY: Abe Bobb (2-3, 6.31)
SATURDAY: Christian Cecilio (3-4, 4.29)
SUNDAY: Grant Goodman (2-2, 3.86)
 
ATKINSON IN THE CLUTCH
Derek Atkinson has been one of the best hitters for the Dons all season and he is even better with runners on base. He is hitting .423 with runners on, .410 (16-for-39) with runners in scoring position and with a runner on third with less than two outs has driven in 11 runs in 13 chances (.846), which is the best on the team. The lefty Atkinson is also hitting a staggering .452 against left handed pitching.
 
ZIMMER ON FIRE
Bradley Zimmer has been on a tear since the beginning of WCC play. In his nine conference games, he is hitting .529 with two home runs, a triple and eight RBI to go along with six stolen bases. He is also carrying a 1.434 OPS against conference foes.
 
GET 'EM TO THE SIXTH
The Dons are 11-1 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, Brock Larson and Houston Hibberd most often and the three have combined to throw 53.2 innings and carry an ERA of 2.51. Hibberd has been near untouchable with a 1.21 ERA and leads the team in wins (3) and saves (5). 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 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 445. 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 SACRAMENTO STATE
The Hornets are a different team from the one the Dons saw back at the beginning on March. Sacramento State has won eight straight games and mercy ruled New Mexico State on Saturday and Sunday. Rhys Hoskins has five home runs and 22 RBI. Probable starter Justin Dillon has only thrown five inning this season in three appearances.
 
ABOUT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
The Lions are off to a strong start in conference play. They have won seven of their first nine WCC games including a series win at San Diego two weeks ago. LMU starting pitcher and All-WCC preseason pick Colin Welmon was the WCC Pitcher of the Week for his outing against the Toreros as he went eight scoreless innings for the 7-0 win. LMU took two out of three last season at Benedetti Diamond.