THIS WEEKEND
Games #36-38
USF vs. Gonzaga
Friday, Apr. 15 | Sunday, Apr. 17
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Live stats: usfdons.com
Audio/Video: TheW.tv
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday, April 15 | 3 p.m. | TheW.tv - PBP: Vinnie Longo
USF: RHP Anthony Shew (1-5, 5.82) GON: RHP Brandon Bailey (5-1, 1.59)
Saturday, April 16 | 1 p.m. | TheW.tv - PBP: Vinnie Longo
USF: RHP Thomas Ponticelli (2-3, 5.22) GON: RHP Eli Morgan (5-1, 3.95)
Sunday, April 17 | 1 p.m. | TheW.tv - PBP: George Devine
USF: RHP James Kannenberg (3-3, 3.97) GON: TBD
SAN FRANCISCO – The USF Dons (10-25, 5-7 WCC) will host first-place Gonzaga (20-10, 9-3 WCC) in the first West Coast Conference series at the newly renovated Benedetti Diamond this weekend. The Dons, currently tied for sixth place in the WCC standings (with San Diego), are looking to stay in the WCC title hunt by winning their second conference series of year. USF opened conference play back on Mar. 18-20 by taking two of three at Santa Clara, and have since managed to win one game in each of their next three series at Pacific, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount to keep themsevles in the mix.
Friday's series opener at 3 p.m. will feature senior right-hander
Anthony Shew (1-5, 5.82) going up against Gonzaga righty Brandon Bailey (5-1, 1.59).
Saturday will feature the pre-game grand opening ceremony to officially open the new ballpark. The first 250 fans for Saturday's game will receive an official Benedetti Diamond opening weekend t-shirt.
Freshman righty
Thomas Ponticelli (2-3, 5.22) will get the start on Saturday, countered by right-hander Eli Morgan (5-1, 3.95). Sunday's series finale will feature junior right-hander
James Kannenberg (3-3, 3.97), while Gonzaga's starter for Sunday is TBD.
All of the weekend's action can be followed via live stats on USFDons.com and a live video stream on TheW.tv.
THE STORY SO FAR
The Dons suffered a 12-3 loss to New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon in their first game in their new home facility. The Lobos got out to a fast start by scoring four runs in the first and second innings to take an 8-0 lead that they never relinquished.
Allen Smoot led USF with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, hitting a double and driving in two runs, while
Ross Puskarich went 3-for-3.
Grant Goodman suffered the loss for the Dons, going just one-third of an inning where he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
NOTABLES
• INF
Ross Puskarich leads the Dons at the plate over the past 10 games, hitting .364 with a home run, double and 6 RBI over that span
• INF
Allen Smoot has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games, hitting .393 (22-for-56) with 7 doubles and 11 RBI over that span
• SS
Nico Giarratano has played a stellar shortstop this season, only committing two errors on the year in 160 chances (.988). Giarratano also leads the West Coast Conference in defensive assists (109) this year
• As a team, the Dons are 2nd in the West Coast Conference in sacrifice bunts (26). OF/IF
Matt Sinatro leads the team and ranks 5th in the NCAA in sac bunts (10)
•
Matt Sinatro ranks 20th in the NCAA in stolen bases (19) coming into the week
• The Dons are 2nd in the conference in stolen bases (44) heading into the weekend
• Relievers RHP
Mack Meyer and LHP
Frank Waliczek are tied for the conference lead in appearances (19)
• The longest hitting streak of the season belongs to OF/DH
Blake Valley, who hit in 13 straight games between Feb. 26 and Mar. 16. OF
Beau Bozett enjoyed a 13-game on-base streak of his own that stretched from Feb. 20 to Mar. 20
• Senior catcher
Ryan Matranga has thrown out 52% (13-of-25) of baserunners this season
• 18th-year head coach
Nino Giarratano is approaching his 500th career victory at USF. Giarratano, the Dons' all-time wins leader, currently sits at 490
ABOUT GONZAGA
The Zags come into the weekend with a 20-10 overall record and in first place with a 9-3 mark in West Coast Conference play. Gonzaga is coming off of back-to-back sweeps of Pacific and Portland in their past two weekends. They are riding a seven-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10.
1B/DH Taylor Jones (.383, 15 2B, 22 RBI) leads the Zags at the plate, while 3B Jeffrey Bohling (.354, 5 HR, 31 RBI) and CF Tyler Frost (.333, 4 HR, 33 RBI) have added some punch to the lineup. Gonzaga is second in the WCC with a .306 team average.
On the mound, Gonzaga sports a 4.04 team ERA, which ranks in the middle of the conference. Opposing hitters are batting .250 against the Zags' staff.
THE SERIES
The Dons are 32-29 against Gonzaga under head coach
Nino Giarratano (since 1999). Last season, USF took two of the three games in the series in Spokane, Wash. Gonzaga shutout USF 7-0 in the series opener, but the Dons rallied for a 2-0 shutout of their own in game two, followed by a 4-3 win in the series finale.
