SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Dons got strong pitching and flawless defense but couldn't muster enough offense as they suffered a 3-2 loss to Santa Clara on Friday evening from Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
Dominic Miroglio went 2-for-3 and Matt Sinatro and Nico Giarratano drove in the only two USF runs on the night.
 
Outside of three batters in the bottom of the fourth, USF (19-20, 5-11 WCC) saw starter Grant Goodman and relievers Benji Post and Scott Parker turn in effective outings. However, the Dons were unable to make the most of their 6-4 advantage in hits on the day.
 
"We played tense," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "Any time you only give up four hits and you lose, it has to be because you hit a guy or walked someone, and sure enough that's what happened tonight. We couldn't get the big hit. They got the big hit and that was the difference in the game."
 
Goodman (3-3) took the loss, throwing 6 2/3 innings where he allowed three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out five. All the Broncos' damage was done on a three-batter sequence in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Goodman hit Andre Nnebe and walked Jake Brodt before giving up a three-run home run to Tyler Meditz.
 
"[Goodman] got behind 2-1 and just left the ball in the middle of the plate," added Giarratano. "If we continue to make pitches right there, I'm not sure they score."
 
USF's best scoring opportunity came in the top of the eighth when Ross Puskarich led off the inning with a single. Pinch-runner Tyler Villaroman promptly stole second and eventually moved up to third on an aggressive tag up on Harrison Bruce's flyout to center. Sinatro then lifted a sacrifice fly that plated Villaroman and brought the Dons within one. However, during the next at-bat Brady Bate was tagged out at home trying to score from third on a ball that didn't kick far enough away from Santa Clara catcher Lucas Eliason, ending the inning.
 
Giarratano had gotten the Dons on the board in the sixth when he dropped in an RBI single to center that scored Bruce.  
 
Santa Clara (8-28, 4-9 WCC) threatened in the bottom of the seventh by putting runners on first and second with a single and a walk before Post came out of the bullpen to strikeout John Cresto and strand both runners.
 
Parker did the same in the bottom half of the eighth when he relieved Post with a runner at second and recorded the final two outs with a pair of strikeouts to prevent a run from scoring.
 
The Dons and Broncos continue the series on Saturday at 6 p.m. USF will send right-hander Thomas Ponticelli (1-1, 2.01 ERA) to the mound, while Santa Clara is slated to counter with righty Grant Nechak (1-4, 5.09).