The Rundown
SAN FRANCISCO - The University of San Francisco Dons (23-17, 12-6 WCC) baseball team took the rubber match of their three-game series against Gonzaga (20-18, 10-8 WCC) to win their fifth WCC series of the season.
 
The Dons would open up the scoring in the third inning, which began with a one-out double off the netting in right field by Aaron Ping. Jonathan Allen would come up a batter later and hit a line drive through the middle that would bring Ping around to score to give the Dons an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, Michael Perri would lead-off the inning with a double down the left field line. After a ground out from Puskarich moved Perri to third, Brady Bate would rope a single between short stop and third base to bring in the run. USF would take a 2-0 lead into the fifth.
 
The Bulldogs would threaten in the sixth inning with a lead-off single. After getting an out on a fielder's choice, USF starter, Landen Bourassa, would walk the next batter. Daniel Slominski would come on in relief for the junior and get an inning ending 5-4-3 double play, keeping the Bulldogs off the board.
 
After forcing Gonzaga to go into their bullpen for the first time all series in the sixth inning, the Dons would add their third run of the afternoon in the seventh inning. Bate would get his second single of the game to lead-off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Jack Winkler moved Bate to second, Ping would launch another ball of the netting in right field to bring Bate around to score with two-outs to increase the USF lead to 3-0.
 
Slominski would go two and two-thirds inning of shut out baseball in relief of Bourassa, allowing just one hit and striking out four, before handing the ball off to Brendan Jenkins in the ninth inning. The senior would make quick work on the first batter, before walking the second batter he'd face. But, Jenkins would get a ground ball to first that turned into a game-ending double play, earning the Dons a 3-0 win over Gonzaga.
 
With this win the Dons are now 23-17 overall and 12-6 in the WCC. USF will hit the road on Tuesday and head up to Davis, Calif. to take on UC Davis in a one-game midweek matchup.

COACHES CORNER
USF head coach Nino Giarratano


GAME STATS

•  Ping and Bate combined for four of the Dons eight hits on the day. The two hit games from both seniors matches their season best single game hit total.
• With his double today, 10 of Ping's 19 hits this year have been doubles.
• Allen's hit today adds to his team leading hit total to 59.
• Jenkins earned his seventh save of the season, adding to his team lead in that category.
• With his appearance today, Jenkins is now tied with Scott Parker for most appearances out of the bullpen from a USF reliever with 21.
• Slominski's four strikeouts puts his total for the year at 20.