BASE | CSUN Fends Off Dons in Extras to Win Opener - University of San Francisco Athletics

Friday, May 17

San Francisco

3 p.m.

University of San Francisco

28-26

CSUN

22-28

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	3	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	14	2
San Francisco	1	0	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	9	12	2

Riley Helland had two RBI doubles Friday versus CSUN in the series opener.

Photo by: Christina Leung

BASE | CSUN Fends Off Dons in Extras to Win Opener

5/17/2019 9:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO — The stage was set multiple times Friday for Jack Winkler to send the University of San Francisco baseball team home with a walk-off win, but each time it came down to a matter of inches. On both occasions the sophomore star made solid contact, but visiting CSUN was able to avoid Winkler's heroics to hold on for a 10-9 non-conference series-opening win in 11 innings at Benedetti Diamond.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Winkler's biggest shot to end it came in the bottom of the 11th. USF (28-26) was rallying once again after CSUN (22-28) had scored two unearned runs in the top half to take a 10-8 lead. Three consecutive Dons reached base – all pinch-hitters – the last coming in the form of an RBI single from Jordan Barchus that made it 10-9. Winkler stepped to the plate with the tying run on third and the winning run on first. Barchus would move to second on a wild pitch during Winkler's at-bat to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position. On a 1-1 count, Winkler mashed a line drive to the left side, but it was right at CSUN shortstop Brandon Bohning, who gloved it to end the game.
CSUN's runs in the top of the 11th technically never should have happened. San Francisco reliever Alex Pham (3-4) struck out each of the first three batters he faced, but the first and third – Robert Bullard and Brandon Bohning – each reached on dropped third strikes via a throwing error and a fielder's choice, respectively. They both came in to score on a two-run error by the Dons, who with one out tried to make a play at the plate and threw the ball away. CSUN scored both of its runs in the top of the 11th without the aid of a base hit, thanks to two dropped third strikes, a walk and an error.
In the bottom of the ninth, Winkler looked to end a comeback he had started back in the first inning. Chase Hodkinson made it to third base with two outs after a leadoff single, sac bunt and a wild pitch, posing as the potential winning run just 90 feet away. Winkler got ahead in the count at 2-1 but mightily swung and missed at the next pitch. Then he rolled a ball up the middle, but it was fielded by the CSUN second baseman to end the inning.
Winkler started USF's comeback Friday by hitting his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the first to put the Dons on the board. CSUN had gotten a three-run homer from Blake Doremus in the top of the first and already led 3-1 after one. Another three-run blast in the second inning made it 6-1 Matadors. But USF scored four in the third, two in the fifth and another in the sixth to knot it up at 8-8 and make it a brand-new ballgame.
Riley Helland and Jonathan Allen both had extra-base RBI hits in the Dons' four-run third-inning rally. Helland's RBI double made it 6-2, and Allen cleared the bases with a two-run triple – his second three-bagger of the year. He later scored when CSUN third baseman Josh Cerpa threw away what would've been the third out of the inning, making it 6-5.
CSUN got its own two-out clutch hit in the very next half-inning to re-expand its lead. The Dons were only one pitch away from getting out of a jam in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs. But Andrew Lucas cashed in with a two-run double off the right-center field netting to put the Matadors back up 8-5.
Down but not out, the Dons got back the two runs in the fifth thanks to another RBI double from Helland and a run-scoring balk called on CSUN starter Isaiah Nunez, making it 8-7. They tied the game an inning later thanks to a pinch-hit RBI single from RJ Cordeiro. Jacob Westerman led off the sixth with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

6: Pham struck out six in 2 2/3 innings of work Friday. It was his 10th appearance this season with at least five strikeouts. Eight of those appearances have been in relief.
57: Allen's two RBIs Friday gave him 57 for the season. The number ties him for seventh all-time in a single season at USF with Gregg Omori, who had 57 runs driven in during the 1998 season.

COMING UP

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 3:03 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. San Francisco lefty Scott Parker will face CSUN right-hander Blake Sodersten. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.