FRESNO, Calif. — Displays of power on both sides swung momentum back and forth Tuesday between the San Francisco baseball team and host Fresno State, but it was the Bulldogs who got the last big swing, scoring three unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings to come from behind and edge the Dons, 8-6, in a non-conference matchup at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Fresno State (8-5) hit three home runs on the night to account for five of its eight runs. The Bulldogs' final big blow put them ahead for good in the bottom of the seventh. Cleanup batter Carter Bins came to the plate hitless on the night, but after a leadoff single by JT Arruda, he worked a hitter's count then launched a 2-0 pitch over the left-center field wall to make it 7-6.
   
• Bins' blast came after Jack Winkler had done the same for his team just the half-inning prior. After two walks and a single in the top of the seventh, Winkler hit his first career grand slam, clearing the bases to put the Dons ahead, 6-5, after they had trailed 5-2 since the fourth. It was San Francisco's first grand slam in just over a year to the date, since Ross Puskarich hit one versus Xavier on March 9, 2018.
   
• San Francisco (10-6) had struck first in its first at-bat, scoring two runs in the first inning for an early 2-0 lead. Tyler Villaroman led off the game with a walk to kick off one of his best days of the season so far (2 for 4, two runs, walk, stolen base). Winkler singled him home to make it 1-0, and Winkler would later score on an RBI groundout by Jake Westerman. But with the bases loaded and one out after Winkler's RBI single, one more run was all USF would get.
   
• Fresno State's first home run came in the second when Zach Presno hit a solo shot to cut the Dons' lead in half at 2-1. Bulldogs leadoff batter Zach Ashford hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-2 at the time.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 0 for 15: The top of the USF order (No. 1 through 4 hitters) went a combined 8 for 16 Tuesday with two walks, a double, home run, five RBIs and five runs scored. But the rest of the lineup – including substitutions – went a combined 0 for 15 with 10 strikeouts.
• 5: Winkler's five RBIs were a career high for him. It was the third time this season a Don had five RBIs in a game. Jonathan Allen has done it twice in 2019 (Feb. 24 vs. CSU Bakersfield, March 5 vs. San Jose State)
• 11: The Dons struck out 11 times as a team Tuesday. It was the second straight game they had double-figure strikeouts as an offense after going the previous eight games with just one such occurrence.

COACH GIARRATANO QUOTES

• "We're very excited by the toughness of the team to continue playing. Winkler had a great at-bat to put us ahead in the seventh. We had great contributions from Allen, (Riley) Helland and (Brandon) Greim to get us to that point.
   
• "We had a few mistakes defensively and a few pitches in the middle, but without them we come away with another road victory."

COMING UP

• San Francisco opens West Coast Conference play at home starting Friday with a three-game series versus Portland. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.