SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The visiting New Mexico Lobos jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they spoiled USF's home opener on Wednesday afternoon, defeating the Dons 12-3 in the first game played at the newly renovated Benedetti Diamond.
 
New Mexico leadoff hitter Luis Gonzalez connected for a home run off Grant Goodman to start the game, helping the Lobos build an 8-0 lead through the first two innings.
 
Goodman (0-4) suffered the loss, throwing just one-third of an inning where he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.  
"I was hoping that we would play a little bit better," said head coach Nino Giarratano. "We didn't play great defense and we didn't pitch very well, so we gave them 16 extra bases, so that's tough. Offensively, I was actually pretty pleased with the majority of our guys. [Allen] Smoot and [Ross] Puskarich had some good production for us and Matt Sinatro was good in the lineup today."
 
Smoot kept his hot hitting going, posting a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a double and two RBI, while Puskarich logged a 3-for-3 performance and Sinatro went 2-for-5 with a run scored to lead the Dons offensively.
 
New Mexico (24-10) jumped ahead early following Gonzalez' leadoff home run. The Lobos plated three more runs in the first inning behind an RBI double by Jack Zoellner and a two-run single by Reece Weber off of USF reliever Benji Post. 
 
UNM added to its lead with another four-run inning in the top of the second, as Carl Stajduhar, Zoellner and Andre Vigil tallied consecutive RBI hits, followed by a bases-loaded walk to Jared Mang issued by Post.
 
USF (10-25) was unable to capitalize off many of its chances at the plate, stranding 11 runners in the game, however Blake Valley delivered a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the third to put the Dons on the board.
 
In the Dons' next inning, Smoot crushed a one-out double just short of the 35-foot-high yellow home run line along the netting in right-center field.
 
That would prove to be the only runs USF would score in the contest. The Dons had runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings after that but could not push any across.        
 
Meanwhile, New Mexico tacked on a pair of runs in each of the fourth and ninth innings.
 
"It was good for the kids to get out here and play on their own home field, but that's a pretty good team," added Giarratano. "Hopefully on Friday we come out and compete a little better when it's not so emotional."   
 
James Harrington (6-1) earned the win by going 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
 
Gonzalez (3-for-5, HR, 3R), Zoellner (2-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Stajduhar (1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) helped lead the Lobos on the day.
 
   
NOTES: This was the Dons' first game played at their home facility this season after renovations to Benedetti Diamond were completed earlier this week… INF Allen Smoot has now hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games… OF Matt Sinatro added to his team-best stolen base total by swiping second base in the fifth inning for his 19^th theft of the year… RHP Mack Meyer lowered his ERA in the eighth inning this season to a team-best 1.59 after throwing a scoreless eighth.
 
UP NEXT: The Dons host Gonzaga in a three-game West Coast Conference series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. at Benedetti Diamond. Senior right-hander Anthony Shew (1-5, 5.82) will take the mound for USF in the series opener. Saturday is scheduled to be the official grand opening of Benedetti Diamond ceremony, featuring a t-shirt giveaway and a special ceremonial first pitch. All three games of the series will be streamed live on TheW.tv.