Follow the Diamond Dons: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM Game No. 39San Francisco Dons (18-20, 7-11 WCC) at Nevada Wolfpack (21-16, 13-8 MWC)Date: Apr. 22, 6 p.m.Location: Peccole Park (Reno, Nev.)
Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play:
Zack Farmer)
Game Nos. 40-42San Francisco Dons at Portland Pilots (8-33, 2-16 WCC)Dates: Apr. 24, 3 p.m.; Apr. 25, 3 p.m.; Apr. 26, 1 p.m.Location: Joe Etzel Field (Portland, Ore.)
Audio Broadcast: USFDons.com/LIVE (Play-by-play:
Zack Farmer)
2014 SCHEDULE2014 ROSTER SAN FRANCISCO—The Dons split their four games last week and will aim to improve on that performance as they continue their eight-game road trip with stops at Nevada and Portland this week.
San Francisco (18-20, 7-11 WCC) has dropped its last two conference series after losing two of its three games to No. 19 Pepperdine over the weekend. This week, they will take on last place Portland in the Pacific Northwest.
Pitching probables:Tuesday:
Sheldon Lee (3-1, 3.86 ERA)
Friday:
Abe Bobb (3-3, 5.48)
Saturday:
Christian Cecilio (4-5, 3.78)
Sunday: TBA
BACK-TO-BACK COMPLETE GAMESAbe Bobb and
Christian Cecilio kept the Dons alive in both Friday and Saturday's games against Pepperdine. The two both threw complete games against the Waves, with Bobb going nine for the 3-2 victory. It was Bobb's third career complete game as he allowed two runs on eight hits. For Cecilio, it was his first career complete game as he went eight strong innings and allowed four runs on nine hits.
NICO GETTING HOTAfter sitting out his first game on Apr. 8,
Nico Giarratano came back in a big way. The freshman shortstop hit his first career home run on that Friday and then hit a walk-off single the following day to give the Dons a 3-2 extra-inning win over Pacific. In those seven games, he is hitting .367 with a home run, seven RBI and has a .957 OPS.
HENDRIKS' TURNAROUNDBrendan 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 .286 with a team-high 14 doubles (fourth in the WCC) to go along with three home runs (second on the team) and 26 RBI (third on the team). He is also second on the team with an .856 OPS.
ZIMMER NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES LISTBradley 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 COMPANYHouston Hibberd has been one of the Dons' best options out of the bullpen this season. He has team-bests in wins (4) and saves (6) and this puts him into some elite company. The senior right hander is one of only 13 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 AGAINThe Dons will not play at Benedetti Diamond again until May 2 against Santa Clara. USF has fared well away from the friendly confines and are 8-9 away from home. They will make trips to Pepperdine, Nevada, Portland and California.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANBradley 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 LEGACYHead 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 450. 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).
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