SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Following their third series victory to begin the year, the University of San Francisco baseball team (8-4) is heading to the Evergreen State to face the#20 Washington State Cougars (13-2) on Wednesday evening before heading east for a three-game set in Spokane against the Gonzaga Bulldogs (2-11) this weekend.
 
The Dons are looking to win their first road games of the season this week after having compiled an 8-2 record at Benedetti Diamond to start the year.
 
GAME DETAILS at Washington State:
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
San Francisco at #20 Washington State | 4:05 PM PST
Bailey-Brayton Field | Pullman, Wash.
Probable Pitchers: USF - LHP #20 Will Hearn (0-1, 40.50 ERA) vs. WSU – LHP #28 Spencer Jones (0-0, 5.79 ERA)
Watch: Pac-12 Network
Live Stats: Stbatbroadcast
 
SERIES DETAILS at Gonzaga:
Friday, March 17, 2023
San Francisco at Gonzaga | 6:00 PM PST
Patterson Baseball Complex | Spokane, Wash.
Probable Pitchers: USF - TBD vs. GU - TBD
Watch: WCC Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
Saturday, March 18, 2023
San Francisco at Gonzaga | 6:00 PM PST
Patterson Baseball Complex | Spokane, Wash.
Probable Pitchers: USF - TBD vs. GU - TBD
Watch: WCC Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
Sunday, March 19, 2023
San Francisco at Gonzaga | 1:00 PM PST
Patterson Baseball Complex | Spokane, Wash.
Probable Pitchers: USF - TBD vs. GU - TBD
Watch: WCC Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
 
THINGS TO KNOW:

• After dropping the opening game of the series against Yale this past weekend, USF rallied back to win the final two games of the series, which included 17 runs combined in the two wins. In the rubber match of the series, Christian Stapleton hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 7th inning to push the Dons' cushion to a five-run lead. Notably, senior right-hander Matt McConnell pitched the final nine outs of the ballgame, which marked the first collegiate win of his career.
• Harris Williams III has had a tremendous start to the season, posting a team-high .419 batting average, good for seventh in the WCC, while also being tied with Christian Stapleton for second most in the conference with 16 RBI each. As the only Dons to appear in all 12 games this season, Williams III, Stapleton, and Mario DeMera have accounted for 48 of USF's 101 hits this season and 28 of the Dons' 73 runs. 
• On the mound, Adam Shew (2.50 ERA) and Jesse Barron (2.65 ERA) are both ranked in the top ten in the conference in ERA respectively. Additionally, Shew is tied for seventh in strikeouts in the conference with 23 K's in only 18 innings pitched.
• USF will face Washington State for the first time in nearly 16 years and will head to Pullman for the first time since February 26, 2006, where USF won 6-2.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS:

• After a series win at Oregon State this past weekend, Washington State heads into Wednesday's matchup tied for the best overall record in the Pac-12 at 13-2, having won nine of their last ten games.
• On the mound, right-handers Andrew Baughn and Caden Kaelber have both posted a 3-0 record with a 1.15 and 2.16 ERA, respectively, with a combined 55 strikeouts in 40 total innings pitched. 
• USF will have to key in on junior first baseman Sam Brown, who has been scorching hot to start the season. So far, Brown has posted a .400 batting average, which is good for seventh best in the Pac-12, while also leading the team with four home runs and 18 RBI. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS:

• Gonzaga heads into its second home series of the season batting .247 as a team, with two everyday players hitting .300 or better to start the season.
• Junior infielder Brian Kalmer has been a light in the dark for the Bulldogs, batting .345 in 55 at-bats this season while leading the team with seven home-runs, 19 hits, and 19 RBI's.
• Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Rutherford holds a 2-0 record for GU, with a 4.63 ERA and 19 strikeouts in his 23 innings on the mound.

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.

MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.

SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – Evergood Sausages - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.