CBB News Sources
(San Francisco, CA) – San Francisco came back from an early deficit and held off a threatening Loyola Marymount (16-13, 3-1 WCC) to earn the 9-5 West Coast Conference victory at Benedetti Diamond on Friday afternoon. USF (18-11, 3-1 WCC) smashed 13 hits in the contest, its 20th game of the season with 10 or more hits.
Freshman designated hitter Stephen Yarrow had a game of firsts, earning his first hit (a lead off double to left in the second), his first run scored (also in the second), and his first multi-hit game as he led off the sixth with a single to center, and later plated in the inning.
LMU started the scoring in the second inning when sophomore first baseman Ryan Wheeler homered to right-center. Senior third baseman Michael Glomb doubled down the right field line and moved to third on junior right fielder Brett Mendoza’s sacrifice bunt. Glomb then scored on a single through the left side by sophomore second baseman Will Dugoni to make it 2-0.
Yarrow’s first hit in the second started a two run rally for the Dons. Yarrow doubled and moved to third on junior third baseman Dane Braunecker’s ground out. Junior left fielder Zach Kim batted in Yarrow with a single to center. Senior shortstop Tavo Hall doubled to left field, scoring Kim and staking the Dons to a 2-2 tie.
Loyola Marymount took a 3-2 lead after plating one in the fourth off a walk, a single, and an error. USF was not finished however as it broke open the sixth, scoring five runs.
Yarrow again led off the inning with a hit, this time a single to center. Braunecker reached safely on a bunt single before Kim bunted to the pitcher, freshman right-hander Martin Viramontes, who opted to get the out at third. That would not happen as Viramontes’ throw went into left field, allowing Yarrow to score. That shook up LMU enough to cause another error, this time by Dugoni, allowing Hall to reach first and load the bases.
With runners on every bag, senior second baseman Joey Railey singled down the right field line, plating Braunecker and Kim. Railey was subsequently caught stealing, getting himself into a pickle he couldn’t get out of. With Hall still on third, freshman center fielder Connor Bernatz singled to second, plating Hall. Senior right fielder Kyle Morgan then tripled (his first of the year) to center, scoring Bernatz and taking the 7-3 lead.
USF would plate one each in the seventh and eighth to make it 9-3 before the Lions mounted a comeback try in the top of the ninth.
Freshman righty Sean Burns entered in relief and promptly gave up a lead off homerun to deep center field by senior left fielder A.J. LaMonda. An out later, senior designated hitter Andy Preston walked, followed by a walk to sophomore center fielder Angelo Songco. Senior catcher Sean Dovel reached on an error by Burns, loading the bases. Wheeler singled to right, scoring Preston.
Freshman left-hander Garret Luippold came in and earned the save (his second), by getting Glomb to ground into a double play.
Sophomore right-hander Alex Kalogrides (3-0) earned the victory in relief, allowing one run (unearned) off four hits, four walks, and struck out four Lions in 6.1 innings. Freshman RHP Chase Tigert started the game, allowing two earned runs off three hits and a walk before leaving with a possible blister after 1.1 innings. Burns allowed two earned runs off two hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.
Along with Yarrow, three other Dons had two hits in the contest. Kim was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Bernatz went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Morgan had two hits (including his triple) and an RBI. Railey had a hit and two RBI and Hall had a hit, two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Bobby Ethel also had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Viramontes (2-3) took the loss for LMU, giving up six runs (three earned) off nine hits, a walk, and struck out six Dons. LaMonda and Wheeler both had three hits on the day, including a homerun for each.
USF and LMU combined for five errors and 21 runners left on base in the contest.
Benedetti Diamond will be the host site for game two of this three game series, tomorrow beginning at 1:00 PM.
