NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The University of San Francisco baseball team's offense continued to improve Sunday, but its presence in clutch situations also continued to wane, as the Dons stranded 10 runners while host CSUN got a clutch go-ahead double in the eighth to complete an opening weekend sweep with a 5-3 win at Matador Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Dons (0-3) got a home run for the second straight day, this time from Tyler Villaroman, who extended his active hitting streak to five games and led all players with a 3 for 5 day at the plate. USF's hit total increased for the second straight day as well with eight on Sunday.
   
• But the woes with runners on base continued for San Francisco. After going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position on Friday and 1 for 9 on Saturday, the Dons went just 1 for 10 on Sunday, and only 2 for 17 overall with runners on base. That left them with weekend totals of 2 for 26 (.077) with runners in scoring position and 4 for 43 (.093) with runners on any base.
   
• San Francisco twice tied the game after trailing. Villaroman's solo home run in the third tied it at 1-1 after Kai Moody had led off the first inning with a long ball of his own. A sacrifice fly in the third and another home run from CSUN catcher Sean Skelly in the fourth put CSUN (3-0) back on top at 3-1. Jack Winkler came through this time with a two-run double in the fifth to score Villaroman and Riki Urata, tying it at 3-3.
   
• Julian Washburn (0-1) was dealing in relief, retiring 11 straight into the eighth inning. That's when the Matadors finally got to him with three consecutive base hits. A single to right, a seeing-eye single through the left side of the infield, followed by a two-run double by designated hitter Jayson Newman gave CSUN the decisive blow with a 5-3 lead.
   
• San Francisco still gave itself a chance in the ninth, getting the tying runs on base with only one out, but back-to-back flyouts by the No. 3 and 4 hitters in the order ended the threat and the game.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

• 2: Villaroman and Winkler both stole two bases each on Sunday. For Villaroman, it gives him three on the season and 53 in his career – only one back from tying for eighth all-time at USF.
• Top-3: The top-three of the Dons' batting order produced all the offense Sunday. Villaroman, Urata and Winkler went a combined 5 for 13 (.385), scored all three runs, drove in all three runs, had two extra-base hits, stole four bases and earned two free passes.
• 4: Washburn recorded four strikeouts Sunday, tied for the most by a USF pitcher over the weekend. Riley Ornido also had four in his start on Friday.

COMING UP

• The Dons play their first home game of 2020 on Tuesday when they host UC Davis. They then travel back to Southern California for a three-game series at CSU Bakersfield. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.