SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- In a back-and-forth game that required extra innings to complete, the USF Dons baseball team (11-8) picked up the hard earned 6-5 win in 11 innings over the Sacramento State Hornets (9-8) on Tuesday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.

Gabe Giosso was the hero with a bruise as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that scored Darius Foster and sent the Dons fans home happy for their tenth win on the Hilltop this season. Foster had a tremendous day at the plate going 3-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and three stolen bases to lead the USF offense, while on the mound the Dons' staff was electric throughout as they struck out 18 Sacramento State hitters in the victory.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• The Dons got off to a quick start with a pair of runs in the top of the first thanks to a Harris Williams III RBI single to score Luke Keaschall, who then came around to score on Giosso's RBI double to make it 2-0 USF after one.
• Sac State got a run back in the second and scored the tying run in the top of the fifth before taking the lead in the sixth as USF's offense went quiet during the middle innings.
• USF responded with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to answer as Foster drove a clutch two-run single to right field to score Giosso and Kyle Knell.
• Sacramento State fought back by scoring twice in the top of the ninth to take the late lead, the Dons answered back in the bottom half of the inning as Williams III once again scored Keaschall to even the score at five heading into extra innings.
• Through 11 innings the game was scoreless, until the Dons loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th inning and Giosso was hit in the hip with a breaking ball that allowed Foster to trot home and for San Francisco to celebrate consecutive walk-off wins at home.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Owen Stevenson set the tone early for the Dons by striking out the side in the top of the first in his only inning of work on Tuesday.
• Foster had a tremendous game at the plate and on the base paths as his afternoon was key to the victory.
• Williams III reached base four times with a pair of hits and walks while also driving in two runs from the three-hole in the Dons' batting order. 
• Giosso continued his rampage at the plate with a two RBI day as he reached base three times with two hits and the hit by pitch as he's been a tremendous addition to the middle of the Dons' batting order.
• The always consistent Keaschall once again a multi-hit performance going 2-for-5 on Tuesday with a pair of runs scored hitting at the top of the USF batting order.
• Pitchers Julian Washburn, Jonah Jenkins, Will Hearn and Kaleb Woltz combined to throw seven innings just allowing two runs combined while striking out a staggering 12 Hornet hitters in dominating fashion.
• Right-hander Sam Beck pitched both the 10th and 11th innings as he worked around traffic to not allow a run across two innnings of work as he picked up his first win of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Dons now return home for a three game weekend at Benedetti Diamond starting with a Friday afternoon matchup with the Santa Clara Broncos (9-6). First pitch for Friday's game will be at 3:00 p.m. with live streaming and live statistics available via the team's schedule page. 

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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.