University of San Francisco Athletics

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Game No. 35
San Francisco Dons (16-18, 6-9 WCC) vs. Nevada Wolfpack (19-14, 11-7 MWC)
Date: Apr. 15, 2 p.m.
Location: Benedetti Diamond
Video/Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play: Max Harris)
 
Game Nos. 36-38
San Francisco Dons at No. 19 Pepperdine Waves (27-8, 12-3 WCC)
Dates: Apr. 17, 3 p.m.; Apr. 18, 3 p.m.; Apr. 19, 1 p.m.
Location: Eddy D. Field Stadium (Malibu, Calif.)
Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play: Zack Farmer)
Video Broadcast: TheW.tv (Friday)

2014 SCHEDULE
2014 ROSTER
 
SAN FRANCISCO—After a rough week at home, the Dons will play its final home game before hitting the road for eight straight when it hosts Nevada on Tuesday and travels to No. 19 Pepperdine this weekend.
 
Since taking the first two games at Loyola Marymount, the Dons (16-18, 6-9 WCC) are 1-4 with the four losses coming by a combined nine runs and there will be no rest with Nevada and Pepperdine. The Wolfpack come to San Francisco having won its last six games and Pepperdine sits atop the West Coast Conference.
 
HENDRIKS' TURNAROUND
Brendan Hendriks has put together a stellar bounce back season to this point. After hitting .184 in 158 at bats last season, he has come back to hit .298 with a team-high 14 doubles (second in the WCC) to go along with three home runs and 26 RBI, both second on the team. He is also second on the team with an .856 OPS.
 
ZIMMER NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES LIST
Bradley Zimmer has proven many predictions right with his play so far this season and can add another accomplishment to his resume as he was named to USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. He was one of 50 players recognized on the list. Most recently, he recorded a 19-game hitting streak, which lasted from Mar. 9 to Apr. 8. He has had multiple hits in 12 of the 19 games and carried a .453 batting average with a .534 on-base percentage.
 
HIBBERD IN ELITE COMPANY
Houston Hibberd has been one of the Dons' best options out of the bullpen this season. He has team-bests in wins (4), saves (6) and ERA (1.95) and this puts him into some elite company. The senior right hander is one of only 10 players in the nation that leads his team in both wins and saves and among that group is tied with the second most saves.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Dons are home on Tuesday but will not play at Benedetti Diamond again until May 2 against Santa Clara. USF has fared well away from the friendly confines and are 7-7 away from home. They will make trips to Pepperdine, Nevada, Portland and California.
 
NICO'S BIG WEEK
After sitting out his first game on Tuesday, Nico Giarratano came back in a big way. The freshman shortstop hit his first career home run on Friday and then hit a walk-off single on Saturday to give the Dons a 3-2 extra-inning win over Pacific. He went 5-for-13 on the weekend with a home run and four RBI while getting on base eight out of 16 times.
 
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 448. 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 NEVADA
The Dons are very familiar with the Wolfpack. The two played a scrimmage in the fall and have played each other four times in the last two seasons with the teams splitting the meetings. Nevada has won its last six games and are 7-3 over its last 10. Austin Byler has been the offensive force for the Wolfpack with six home runs, five triples and eight doubles on the season. Nevada has protected home well but has been vulnerable on the road. They are 11-2 in Reno and 7-11 on the road.
 
ABOUT PEPPERDINE
The Waves have moved to the top of the WCC and have been one of the more consistent teams in the country. Pepperdine has won 10 of its last 11 games and moved into the Top 25 this week, peaking at No. 19 in the Collegiate Baseball News poll. That has been due to the pitching staff. Pepperdine has a team ERA of 2.19 and has been led by Corey Miller. The senior right hander is 6-2 with a 1.15 ERA in 70.2 innings. Aaron Brown is 7-1 with a 2.33 ERA and is hitting .328 with six home runs and 28 RBI.