SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Following a three-game road trip to the Midwest, the University of San Francisco baseball team (13-7) returns to the Hilltop and faces off against California (12-5) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Mar. 19, and Minnesota (8-9) in a three-game set on Friday, Mar. 22 - Sunday, Mar. 24, at Benedetti Diamond.
 
GAME  DETAILS:
GAME 21: Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Opponent: California  
Site: Benedetti Diamond  
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
SERIES DETAILS
GAME 22: Friday, Mar. 22, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Opponent: Minnesota  
Site: Benedetti Diamond  
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
GAME 23: Saturday, Mar. 23, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Opponent: Minnesota  
Site: Benedetti Diamond  
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
GAME 24: Sunday, Mar. 24, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. 
Opponent: Minnesota  
Site: Benedetti Diamond  
Location: San Francisco, Calif.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Tickets: Purchase Here
 
DONS AT A GLANCE:

• San Francisco enters the week after completing a three-game series in Omaha, Neb., taking on Creighton for the first time in program history. After dropping the first contest on Friday, Mar. 15, the Dons bounced back and earned a 6-3 victory on Saturday, Mar. 16, to even the series at a game apiece.
• Pitching highlighted the win over Creighton as Lance Santerre and Gabriel Barrett combined to give up just two earned runs on five hits. Santerre picked up the win as he went five innings and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out three batters. Barrett finished the final four innings to earn the save, closing out the victory for the Dons while fanning two batters.
• Kody Watanabe propelled the green and gold in the win over the Bluejays, as he recorded his second home run of the season with a three-run shot in the fourth inning to put the Dons up 4-2.
• Watanabe continues to lead the Dons offensively, reaching base in 19 of the 20 games this season for a team-leading .527 on-base percentage. The junior third baseman from Aiea, Hawaii, also ranks first on the team in hits (25), doubles (10), RBI (20), and hit-by-pitch (14).
• In his last 24 at-bats, TJ Rogers has accumulated 15 hits, including going six-for-eight at the plate in the series at Creighton. Through 20 games, Rogers leads the team and ranks fourth in the WCC with a .365 batting average and a .653 slugging percentage.
• On the mound, Barrett, Santerre, and Joe Soberon have solidified themselves as the team's top pitchers. Barrett leads the Dons and the WCC with a 0.84 earned-run average, while Soberon (2.54 ERA) and Santerre (3.10 ERA) also rank among the best in the league.
• As a team, San Francisco leads the WCC with a 4.29 team earned-run average, with three pitchers ranking in the top five individually. The Dons have posted a .263 batting average, ranking sixth-best in the conference.
• Overall, offensively, the Dons rank first in doubles (47), walks (98), and on-base percentage (.405), third in triples (five), tied for third in RBI (116), and fourth in hits (167).

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS:

• California enters Tuesday's contest with a 12-5 record and is coming off a series loss at Oregon last weekend. The Golden Bears powered past the Ducks in the series opener, 13-1 on Friday, Mar. 15, but dropped the final two games, 5-1 on Saturday, Mar. 16, and 10-3 on Sunday, Mar. 17.
• The team has four players hitting .300 or better so far this season, with PJ Moutzouridis leading the way with a .431 batting average. Peyton Schulze (.369 BA), Caleb Lomavita (.361 BA), and Jarren Advincula (.306 BA) have also helped guide the team offensively through 17 games.
• Luke Short, the team's top pitcher, has a 2-0 record and a team-leading 2.29 earned-run average. In four starts, Short has allowed just five earned runs on 18 hits in 19.2 innings pitched.
• As a team, California ranks third in the Pac-12 in batting average (.288) and slugging percentage (.497). On the mound, the Golden Bears have accumulated a 5.10 earn-run average, ranking third in the conference and 90th nationally. 

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS:

• Minnesota makes its first-ever appearance in San Francisco after dropping two games of a three-game set at Elon last weekend. Falling in the first two contests to the Phoenix, the Golden Gophers bounced back to earn a 9-7 decision in extra innings on Sunday, Mar. 17.
• The weekend series on the Hilltop marks the third California team that Minnesota will face off against this season. The Golden Gophers have recorded wins over Sacramento State and Pacific earlier this season.
• Weber Neels leads the squad with a .339 batting average, recording 20 hits in 59 at-bats. Neels has totaled six multi-hit games this season, including going three-for-five with a home run in the win over Elon last Sunday.
• Connor Wietgrefe has accumulated a 3.33 earned-run average while posting a 1-1 record on the mound. In five appearances for the Golden Gophers, Wietgrefe has allowed 15 runs on 31 hits while striking out 16 batters in 27.0 innings pitched.
• Establishing a solid pitching staff, Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten and 50th in Division I with a team earned-run average of 4.36. Seven team members have posted a 3.00 ERA or lower in 17 games, with three not allowing an earned run in over 10 innings pitched combined. 

SERIES HISTORY:

• Tuesday's matchup on the Hilltop marks the 26th meeting between San Francisco and California since the 2006 season. The Golden Bears hold a slight edge over the Dons in the last 18 years, recording 15 wins, including a 5-1 victory in the previous meeting at Benedetti Diamond on February 28, 2021.
• San Francisco and Minnesota will face off for the first time in program history when the Golden Gophers travel to take on the Dons this weekend.

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? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – San Francisco Toyota - 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.