SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Highlighted by a balanced offensive attack, the University of San Francisco baseball team (13-13, 3-1 WCC) earned a convincing 14-6 win over Saint Mary's (12-13, 0-1 WCC) in the series opener Friday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• San Francisco brought out the bats in the bottom of the first inning, taking control with six runs on four hits to break open the game early. Trevor Harmon highlighted the six-run frame, recording a three-run home run to solidify the scoring. Patrick Keighran also added a two-RBI double, scoring Kenny DeCelle and TJ Rogers, while Eddison Esquivel posted a single that plated Keighran.
• Chipping away in the fourth and fifth innings, Saint Mary's put runs on the board in the fourth and fifth innings to trim its deficit to 6-2. A bases-loaded double play allowed Tanner Griffth to come across in the fourth, and Brian Duroff scored on a Jared Mettam groundout in the following frame.
• The Dons recorded seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the second-most runs in an inning this season, expanding the margin to 13-2. With one on and one out, Esquivel hit a long two-run home run over the right-field wall to kick off the scoring.
• Leading 8-2, extra-base hits from DeCelle and Zack Ramppen and an RBI single off the bat of Kody Watanabe plated five more runs for the green and gold.
• The Gaels bounced back in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs to get within 13-6. Duroff led the Gaels in the frame, posting a three-run home run to cap off the scoring.
• An insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, Watanabe poked a single over the leaping Mettam at shortstop, scoring Harmon for the Dons' 14th run.
• Neither team scored in the last three frames as San Francisco held on for the 14-6 victory in the series opener.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• San Francisco tallied 12 hits throughout the contest, the sixth most by the team this season. Three players recorded multi-hit performances, with Watanabe, Rogers, Keighran, and Esquivel posting two apiece.
• Esquivel shined as he recorded his team-leading fifth home run of the season while going two-for-five at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. Posting two or more RBI in back-to-back games, Esquivel has posted seven multi-RBI games this season and ranks second on the team and fifth in the WCC in that statistical category.
• Harmon also succeeded with the long ball as well, tallying his fourth of the season on the three-run blast in the bottom of the first inning. Increasing his batting average to .304, four of Harmon's 14 hits this season have been home runs.
• Lance Santerre earned his second win of the season with a solid five-inning performance on the mound. Santerre allowed just two runs on three hits in five frames and struck out three batters.
• Kolby Calia and Cal Amborn pitched the final four innings, combining for four strikeouts and one walk.

UP NEXT:
San Francisco wraps up its three-game series against Saint Mary's with a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 29, with the first game kicking off at 11:00 a.m. at Benedetti Diamond.
 
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MERCHANDISE:
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SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor – Planet Orange - 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.