SAN FRANCISCO — It was another wild and crazy game in Sunday's series finale between the University of San Francisco baseball team and Stanford. Sunday's finale featured 28 total runs on 27 hits with 26 combined free passes issued by 14 different pitchers in a game that lasted nearly 4 1/2 hours, as the Cardinal completed a four-game sweep with a 15-13 win at Benedetti Diamond.
 
San Francisco (4-8) erased multiple deficits Sunday, like it did on three occasions Saturday, none bigger than coming back from an 11-0 deficit in a single half-inning. Stanford (7-1) scored runs in every single frame but the top of the ninth, running out to an 11-0 lead with seven in the first, one in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth. USF had base runners on in each of the first three innings, but was held scoreless until the fourth.
 
The Dons staged a huge comeback rally in the bottom of the fourth inning, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring 11 runs thanks to four hits – all for extra bases – and seven free passes (four walks, three hit-by-pitch). Back-to-back RBI doubles by Jacob Munoz and Jacob Westerman started the rally, making it 11-2. Six of the next seven USF hitters reached for free, the only one who didn't driving in a run on a sacrifice fly, and all of the sudden it was 11-6.
 
Munoz's second RBI double of the inning drove in two and made it 11-8. Westerman followed with his second RBI of the inning on a sacrifice fly to make it 11-9, and Jordan Vujovich capped off the rally by getting ahead in the count, 2-0, then sending a pitch over the yellow tape on the right field net for a two-run, two-out, game-tying home run that made it 11-11.
 
"I'm really proud of the effort by the guys," said San Francisco head coach Nino Giarratano. "You're down 11-nothing, man, no one expects you to tie it at 11-11, not against Stanford. So proud of them.
 
"I'm not worried about the team. You lose four games and you had a chance to win on Thursday night – you lost on the last pitch, you had a chance to win on Friday and you get beat in the last third of the game, you had a chance on Saturday to win and you lost in the eighth inning, and you had a chance to win on Sunday and you lost in the eighth inning."
 
But as previously mentioned, Stanford just kept on scoring. The Cardinal scored single runs in every inning from the fourth through the eighth. After taking a 12-11 lead, Brandon Greim tied it again for the Dons by hitting a pinch-hit solo home run also over the high line on the right field wall, making it 12-12. Stanford's runs in the next three innings put them ahead for good at 15-12.
 
The Dons tried to put together one more game-tying rally in the bottom of the eighth. They loaded the bases with one out and got a run on an RBI groundout to make it 15-13, putting both of the tying runs in scoring position. But a looking strikeout on a full count would end the threat and strand the tying runs, preserving the Cardinal's lead.
 
"We got some walks, we got some big hits and we battled back to score 11 and tie the game up and make it a game," said Giarratano. "We were out of pitching. We got some guys in there and they did a great job of just giving up one every inning until the end, but had we been able to just stop them and give our offense to catch their breath – they were always playing from behind."
 
San Francisco scored 13 runs on only seven hits Sunday, taking advantage of 10 walks and three hit-by-pitches. Seven of those 13 free passes scored runs, while the Dons only left five runners on base in the game. Stanford, meanwhile, scored its 15 runs on 20 hits and 13 free passes (11 walks, two hit-by-pitches). The Cardinal stranded 17 runners on base, including 11 in scoring position and leaving the bases loaded twice.
 
Munoz's 2-for-5 performance with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored led the way for USF. Westerman went 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Greim came off the bench to go 2 for 2 with a home run, RBI and run scored. Six Cardinal hitters had multi-hit performances. Brock Jones went 3 for 5 with two home runs, four RBIs, two walks and two runs scored. Vincent Martinez had a team-high four hits with two RBIs and three runs scored, while Henry Gargus (3 for 3, three runs, two walks) and Christian Robinson (3 for 6, walk, RBI, two runs) also had three hits each.
 
"Obviously the guys need some confidence and they need to get over that hump and get some wins," said Giarratano. "We had some great at-bats by Greim off the bench today, Munoz was fantastic today for us, it was nice to get Eddie Burns and some guys in there. Once we narrow it down to 27 innings on the weekend, I think we've got enough guys to be competitive and give us a chance to win, we've just got to play better defense."
 
The Dons next travel back to Southern California for another series against another nationally ranked opponent. USF takes on UC Santa Barbara in a four-game series on the road starting Friday in Santa Barbara. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.