SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The USF Dons baseball team (9-7, 0-3) returns to Benedetti Diamond this week looking to continue their strong play at their home ballpark as they face the Nevada Wolf Pack (10-10, 2-4) on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a three-game weekend series against the Loyola Marymount Lions (9-9, 2-1). 
 
USF returns to the Hilltop following a four-game trip through the Pacific Northwest that saw them best the then #20 Washington State Cougars before dropping three hard fought battles against Gonzaga. Highlighting the Dons' early season success at the plate has been the stellar run production from Christian Stapleton and Harris Williams III who are both top five in the WCC in runs batted in through the first month of the season.
 
GAME DETAILS vs. Nevada:
 
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Nevada vs. USF | 1:00 PM PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: NEV #29 RHP Alejandro Murillo (0-0, 5.87 ERA) vs. USF #6 LHP Weston Lombard (0-1, 2.92 ERA)
Watch | Live Stats
 
SERIES DETAILS vs. LMU:
 
Friday, March 24, 2023
LMU vs. USF | 1:00 PM PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: LMU TBD vs. USF TBD
Watch | Live Stats
 
Saturday, March 25, 2023
LMU vs. USF | 1:00 PM PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: LMU TBD vs. USF TBD
Watch | Live Stats
 
Sunday, March 26, 2023
LMU vs. USF | 12:00 PM PST
Benedetti Diamond | San Francisco, Calif.
Probable Pitchers: LMU TBD vs. USF TBD
Watch | Live Stats
 
THINGS TO KNOW:

• Up until the final innings of each game, the Dons kept it close throughout all three contests against the Gonzaga Bulldogs over the past weekend. The series opener saw Michael Campagna hit his second home run of the season in the top of the second to give the Dons an early lead, followed by a two-run top of the fifth with RBI from Williams III and Mario DeMera. In the second game of the series, Stapleton gave USF a 7-5 lead in the top of the eighth with a double that sent both Williams III and DeMera home. In the final game of the series, after starting the game down three runs, Campagna and Ryan Martinez each had an RBI in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, cutting the deficit to a single run.
• On the mound, Matt McConnell pitched his third scoreless outing of the season in the opener against Gonzaga with 2 2/3 innings pitched. In his fourth start of the season, Jesse Barron recorded four strikeouts and allowed three earned runs over six innings pitched in the Sunday's series finale.
• The Dons will face Nevada for the second year in a row and for the 14th time in the last decade, with an overall 8-10 record against the Wolf Pack.
• USF hosts LMU for a home series on the Hilltop for the first time in two years, and the Dons are currently on a 5-game home win streak against the Lions, dating back to April 2019.

 SCOUTING THE WOLF PACK:

• Nevada is seeking to avenge a weekend series loss of their own, coming to the Hilltop after dropping two of three games against UNLV. The Wolf Pack are 4-7 on the road this season and 10-10 overall.
• The Wolf Pack come into the Bay Area hitting .254 as a team, with two everyday players batting above .300 in redshirt-sophomore catcher Nolan Wilson (.315) and freshman infielder Mason Hirata (.311).
• On the mound, junior right-handed pitcher Peyton Stumbo, sophomore right-handed pitcher Jason Doktorczyk, and junior right-handed pitcher Casey Burfield have each compiled a 2-1 record so far this season. In 21 innings pitched, Stumbo has recorded a 3.43 ERA with 26 strikeouts.
• Slated to get the start on Wednesday afternoon for Nevada, right-hander Alejandro Murillo will get the nod as he's made four appearances this season including three innings of one run ball in his last outing against UNLV.

 SCOUTING THE LIONS:

• The Lions are coming off a home series win against BYU, recording a season-high in total runs scored in one series with 24 runs over the three games.
• Graduate student left-handed pitcher Diego Barrera has had an outstanding start to the season with a 1.41 ERA, which is the best in the WCC and the 25th best in the nation.
• LMU has compiled a 4-4 road record so far in the season, coming away with at least one victory in each of its previous road series.
• USF has to watch out for senior catcher Jared Thomas and junior infielder Diego Baqueiro when they step up to the plate, as they are both batting over .300 this season, combining for 38 hits and four home runs.

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 – LuxBus America - 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.