March 24, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

DONS END SIX GAME HOMESTAND WITH A WEDNESDAY GAME WITH UC DAVIS AND TRAVEL TO MORAGA FOR WEST COAST CONFERENCE OPENING WEEKEND AGAINST SAINT MARY'S: USF hosts UC Davis on Wednesday at 2:00 PM, ending their longest homestand to date. The Dons then head to Moraga to play Bay Area and West Coast Conference rival Saint Mary's in the opening weekend of conference play. Friday's first pitch is set for 3:00 PM with Saturday's and Sunday's games begining at 1:00 PM

SCOUTING REPORT - WEEK 6

GAME #24 - UC DAVIS AGGIES (12-7)

SCOUTING UC DAVIS: In their first year as official members of both Division I Collegiate Baseball and the Big West Conference, the UC Davis Aggies are playing great ball, currently holding at 12-7 on the season. The Aggies took 2-for-4 over then No. 18 Fresno State (2/22-2/24) to open the season, swept Utah in a four game series (2/29-3/2), and have won their last six consecutive games (3/9-3/16). Batting .337 as a team, three Aggies are above the .400 mark; junior outfielder Ryan Scoma (.482/27-56), junior catcher Jake Jefferies (.439/36-82), and sophomore infielder Ty Kelly (.420/29-69). Jefferies leads the pack with 24 RBI and senior outfielder Ryan Royster has five homeruns. In their last meeting, USF took a 7-6 win in Davis. Head Coach Rex Peters is 154-141-1 in his six years at Davis and is 402-272-3 in 15 years overall.

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008 SEASON STATS
Team	W-L	BA	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	BB 	ERA   SO	OBA
USF 	13-10	.283 	146 	227 	13	134 	84	4.61  158 	.270
UCD	12-7	.337	148	233	17	140	74	4.79  151	.302

LAST MEETINGS: USF 7, at UC Davis 6 (3/5/08)

LAST TIME AGAINST THE DONS: San Francisco ended its four game slide as the Dons defeated UC Davis 7-6 in non-conference action at Dobbins Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. USF (4-6) and the Aggies each pounded out 12 hits in the contest. Sophomore RHP Alex Kalogrides earned the win in relief, allowing two earned runs off two hits, three walks, and striking out one in 2.2 innings. Freshman Connor Bernatz ended the day 2-for-4 with a homerun, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Mitchell Bialosky went 2-for-5 with a homerun, a run scored and an RBI.

GAME #25-27 - SAINT MARY'S GAELS (13-7-1)

SCOUTING SAINT MARY'S: After finishing last season at 21-29, 3-18 WCC, the Gaels are off to an impressive 13-7-1 start to 2008. Winners of five of their last seven, Saint Mary's 9-1-1 at Luis Guisto Field. Sophomore outfielder Kyle Jensen leads the Gaels, batting .373 with eight doubles, one triple, six homeruns, 16 RBI and 11 runs scored. Sophomore Scott Schneider leads on the mound with a 4-1 record, 3.30 ERA in five starts and has struck out 28 batters. Head Coach Jedd Soto is 94-132-2 in six years at the helm for the Gaels.

TEAM COMPARISONS - 2008 SEASON STATS
Team	W-L	BA	RUNS	HITS	HR	RBI	BB 	ERA    SO	OBA
USF 	13-10	.283 	146 	227 	13	134 	84	4.61  158 	.270
SMC	13-7-1	.320	139	219	17	127	94	4.45  140	.256

LAST MEETINGS: at USF 11, SMC 1 (5/11/07); at USF 4, SMC 3 (5/12/07); at USF 11, SMC 10 (5/13/07).

LAST TIME AGAINST THE DONS: After 11-1 and 4-3 wins in the previous two games, USF took an 11-10 thriller in the final game of the season. Down 10-9 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on first, senior catcher Jon Norfolk blasted a two-run walk-off homer over the right field fence to win the game for USF. San Francisco came from behind twice to get the 11-10 victory over Saint Mary's. SMC got off to an early 5-1 lead, scoring four in the first and one in the second off USF's junior right-hander Tommy Peale, but the Dons tied it in the third. USF added a run in the sixth before the Gaels retook the lead by plating five runs over the last three innings. With two already across and two out in the ninth, Luke Sommer put a sure out into the air, but SMC's senior left fielder Eric Cattoni dropped the easy fly ball. That error left the inning open as Norfolk stepped to the plate. In his final collegiate at bat, Norfolk battled with a 1-2 count to pound the ball over the right field fence. Junior left-hander Matt Baugh earned the win in relief, striking out three in the ninth.

DANTE BENEDETTI CLASSIC:Once again, the Dons will meet Cal at AT&T Park for the Third Annual Dante Benedetti Classic on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 6:30 PM. The Dons defeated Cal 7-6 two years ago in the first DBC, and took a 6-2 victory over Santa Clara last year. The Classic celebrates the legacy of a giant in San Francisco youth and collegiate baseball. Benedetti, who coached USF for 16 years for an annual salary of one dollar, passed away in November 2005 at the age of 86 after a long illness. Preceding the game, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats will meet their inter-city rivals, the Sacred Heart Cathedral Fighting Irish at 3:30 PM.

Connor Bernatz THREE POINTS AWAY FROM .400: Freshman outfielder Connor Bernatz has been on fire at the plate, especially last week (3/17-3/23). In helping the Dons go 5-0, Bernatz batted .588 (10-17) with two doubles, his first triple as a Don and a homerun, drove in two runs and scored four. He had a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .667 on base percentage, all while playing flawless defense in the outfield. For the year, Bernatz is batting .397 (first on the team) with five doubles, a triple, two homeruns, 16 RBI, 12 runs scored and a stolen base.

Kyle Morgan LEADS DONS IN TWO CATEGORIES: Senior transfer Kyle Morgan leads the Dons in RBI (21) and homeruns (4). Over the past week, the right-fielder batted .353 with a double, two homeruns, five RBI and six runs scored, and a stolen base. Morgan is currently batting .282 on the year, but raised his average 23 points after last week.

BOBBY THEL BATS IN SIX IN DONS 5-0 WEEK: Sophomore outfielder Bobby Ethel was the star in the RBI category last week, driving in six runs off just four hits (two doubles). He also scored two runs and stole a base. For the year, Ethel is batting .375 with five doubles, a triple, and four stolen bases.

Travis Higgs EARNS FIRST HIT AS DON: Freshman back-up catcher Travis Higgs earned the first hit of his USF career in a 9-2 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday (3/22). With two outs and the bases loaded, Higgs smashed the ball into left field, scoring two.

Ryan Lipkin SMASHES FIRST HOMERUN: Sophomore catcher Ryan Lipkin hit his first homerun in the Green and Gold in USF's 13-8 comeback win over Fresno State (3/18). The leadoff solo shot brought the Dons to within three, 5-2, before they took the lead the next inning.

Derek Poppert RETURNS TO THE LINEUP: After sustaining an injury in the first game of the season, sophomore infielder Derek Poppert returned to the lineup this week in full force. Poppert batted .300 (6-20) with his first double and first triple of the season, along with five RBI, six runs, and a stolen base.

Matt Lujan THROWS 8.0 INNING GEM: In Thursday's shutout victory, 6-0 over Fairleigh Dickinson, freshman left-hander Matt Lujan threw a masterful 8.0 innings, not allowing a run off just six hits, one walk, and a season high five strikeouts. Only three Knights made it passed second base with Lujan on the mound, but he managed to wiggle out of the FDU scoring chances unscathed.

Sean Burns GETS FIRST WIN ON THE MOUND: Freshman left-hander Sean Burns earned his firs pitching victory as a Don in USF's 7-4 comeback victory over Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday (3/21). Burns did not give up a run off one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings of relief.

Chase Tigert STRIKES GOLD: In his first appearance of the season (due to injury), sophomore right-hander Chase Tigert blew away his competition in his two innings of work, striking out five consecutive Knights in the Dons 11-1 win over Fairleigh Dickinson (3/22). Tigert started the game and proceeded to recored six straight outs. After the first batter of the game grounded out, Tigert struck out the final two batters of the inning, and all three in the second.

Matt Baugh THROWS 10 INNING COMPLETE GAME: Senior right-hander Matt Baugh (2-2) earned the 6-4 victory for USF against Houston (3/15) in the longest outing of his career. Throwing 10 complete innings, Baugh allowed four earned runs off eight hits, struck out five Cougars and did not walk a batter. Last week, Baugh threw another gem, earning the 9-2 win over Fairleigh Dickinson (3/22), allowing just two runs (one earned) off four hits, one walk, and a season high seven strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

DONS EARN FIRST SHUTOUT VICTORY: In the 20th game of the season, USF finally earned it's first shutout victory, 6-0 over visiting Fairleigh Dickinson (3/20). The Dons had blanked three opponents by the 20th game in 2007 and four in 2006.

DONS BATS COME ALIVE: USF went 7-3 in their last ten games, but it's offense has been on fire. The Dons have outscored their opponents 74-44, out hit them 112-73, and had 37 extra base hits (27 doubles, three triples, and seven homeruns) compared to opponents 19 (13 doubles, two triples, and four homeruns). USF hasn't had less than nine hits in the last nine games.