STOCKTON, Calif. — It was bound to happen eventually.
An offense that for two weeks hadn't been as potent and opportunistic as it had for most of the season, finally broke out the big bats Sunday. The University of San Francisco baseball team homered four times and scored 17 runs on 14 hits, pounding host Pacific, 17-4, at Klein Family Field to clinch its second consecutive West Coast Conference series victory.
The Dons (18-20, 13-8 WCC) eclipsed a number of offensive milestones in Sunday's slugfest over the Tigers (12-27, 2-13 WCC). Their four home runs were the most they've hit in a single game in at least 10 years (going back through the 2012 season). The 17 runs scored were the most they've scored in two years, since putting up 19 on the road at UC Davis on April 22, 2019. Their 14 hits were tied for second-most this season, and most since collecting 16 in a 12-1 win at San Diego on April 16.
Good win today for the Dons," said San Francisco head coach
Nino Giarratano. That's our fifth WCC series win this season, I'm really happy about that. The offense was very good for the entire day. The fellas really answered after a tough loss on Friday."
Jacob Westerman stood out among many outstanding performances by Dons Sunday. He hit a grand slam in the third inning – the first grand slam by a Don since March 10, 2020 – to turn a 1-0 ballgame into a 5-0 lead for USF. He would go 2 for 4 with five RBIs and three runs scored on the day.
Christian Stapleton followed with a two-run shot to make it 7-0, his first career home run as a Don.
Jack Winkler and
Harris Williams got in on the long-ball fun in the fourth inning. A solo shot by Winkler on the first pitch he saw made it 8-1, and a three-run job by Williams – his second homer of the year and his career – made it 11-1 at the time.
The Dons were still not finished in the fifth, scoring six runs on five consecutive RBI singles and a wild pitch to go ahead 17-1. Four Dons had multiple hits and four had multiple RBIs, while four hit home runs.
Meanwhile, five arms combined for a solid day on the mound.
Eric Reyzelman (2-2) earned the win in his limited outing, striking out three and only allowing one run in 2 2/3 innings.
Julian Washburn threw a scoreless inning of relief with two Ks, and
Max Jones threw a shutout frame with a strikeout to close out the game in the ninth.
Pacific's Thomas Gavello turned in another multi-hit performance, going 2 for 3 with a run scored from the leadoff spot. Ben Nemivant went 1 for 3 with a two-run home run in the fifth that made it 17-3.
San Francisco next hosts Saint Mary's in a three-game WCC series starting Friday. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.
