SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- After a long winter away from Benedetti Diamond, the USF Dons baseball team is back in action as they welcome the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos for the first of three this weekend on the Hilltop. The Dons enter the season excited fresh off a 16-11 conference record that was good enough for third and would have put them in the conference tournament had that taken place after being canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
SERIES DETAILS:
Friday, Feb. 18, 2022
UC Santa Barbara vs. USF | 2:00 p.m. PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: RHP Cory Lewis (2021: 7-4, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP
Owen Stevenson (2021: 0-3, 7.36 ERA)
Links:
Watch |
Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022
UC Santa Barbara vs. USF | 1:00 p.m. PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: RHP Ryan Harvey (2021: 0-0, 5.84 ERA) vs. LHP
Weston Lombard (2021: 7-1, 2.67 ERA)
Links:
Watch |
Live Stats
Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022
UC Santa Barbara vs. USF | 1:00 p.m. PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: RHP Ryan Gallagher (Collegiate Debut ) vs. RHP
Sam Beck (2021: 1-3, 6.49 ERA)
Links:
Watch |
Live Stats
THINGS TO KNOW:
- This weekend's opening series pits two strong Northern California programs against each other to lead off the 2022 NCAA Baseball season as the Dons will look to start quick on their home diamond. USF began their regular season last year in Westwood as they took two of three from the then No. 2 ranked UCLA Bruins.
- USF's returning position players include reigning Co-WCC Freshman of the Year infielder Luke Keashall who will take over the everyday shortstop duties and hit in the top three of the Dons' order this season following his stellar debut season on the Hilltop.
- On the mound, USF will trot out a weekend rotation headlined by SF native sophomore right-hander Owen Stevenson, and will round out the first weekend with a pair of transfers in lefty Weston Lombard and right-hander Sam Beck against the Gauchos.
- At the top of the batting order the Dons return speedy senior outfielder Darius Foster who along with former teammate Jack Winkler tied for the conference lead in stolen bases with 23 bags swiped in 2021. Foster's wheels on the bases and in the outfield make him a dynamic part of the roster and a key piece for USF to have success in 2022.
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS:
- USF will have their hands full with an extremely talented Gauchos' squad this weekend, UCSB had a tremendous 2021 season as they posted a 41-20 overall record and finished up their season in the Tucson regional where they came up short against the Arizona Wildcats in their quest to reach the Super Regionals.
- UCSB's offense was a juggernaut during the 2021 season, but the Gauchos will need to replace three of their top four hitters that are no longer with the team.
- The Dons pitching staff will need to be careful against sophomore infielder Jordan Sprinkle who broke out in a big way to begin his college career as he hit .353 to go along with seven home runs and a team-leading 26 RBI.
- On the mound UCSB returns right-hander Cory Lewis as their Friday starter after he appeared in 15 games and made 10 starts for the Gauchos last season. Lewis made life difficult on opposing hitters all season as his batting average against was a microscopic .193 in 2021.
FAN ATTENDANCE:
Fans are welcome at Benedetti Diamond this season and we will not be requiring proof of vaccination or masks at Dons' Baseball games in 2022.
TRACK THE ACTION:
Live streams of all three contests will be available on the WCC Network at game time. Live stats are also available and can be found on the team's schedule page via usfdons.com.
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF baseball program, be sure to follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
