May 7, 2001
USF ran their home West Coast Conference unbeaten streak to 11 games, before falling to visiting Loyola Marymount in the nightcap of a double-header Sunday at Benedetti Diamond. The Dons (26-24, 12-15 WCC) won game one 7-6 with an RBI single from junior catcher Steve Booth in the bottom of the ninth, but could not rally back from their third straight late inning deficit as the Lions (17-37, 5-22 WCC) hung on for a 10-6 win.
San Francisco trailed 6-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Dons fought back with a solo homerun by senior outfielder Chad Soares (2) to knock Lions' starter Vincent Cordova out of the contest. USF then got a single from junior designated hitter Jesse Foppert, a double from junior outfielder Jason Howard. Freshman infielder David Seccombe scored USF's second run on a sacrifice fly and senior outfielder Jason Heise drove in the tying run for the Dons with an RBI single.
Junior right-hander Peter Dunkle (4-3) collected the win in relief of freshman right-handed starter Kevin Rose, who departed after allowing six runs on six hits and also recorded nine strikeouts. Dunkle struck out one in 1.1 innings of relief. C.J. Wilson (2-10) suffered the loss for the second time in as many games against USF after allowing the game winning hit to Booth.
USF would be unable to rally back in game two as the Lions posted three runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings. The Dons struck first with four runs in the first off starter Josh Muecke, but would only score two more runs against the left-hander, posting single runs in the fourth and fifth. Junior outfielder Jeramy Janz continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 double, RBI in game two and finished the series hitting .600 (6-10) with a pair of doubles and three RBI. Soares also had an impressive weekend, hitting .429 (6-14, homerun, five RBI).
Senior right-hander James Clelland (5-1) collected the win in relief for the Lions after pitching 2.2 innings allowing no runs off three hits. Muecke made his exit after 6.1 innings and struck out seven Dons. Freshman right-hander David Seccombe (3-4) suffered the loss for the Dons after allowing three runs off six hits in relief of junior starter Chris Thogersen. Junior left-hander Jeremy Kinney pitched 2.2 innings to close out the Lions and recorded four strikeouts.
For LMU, Kris Zacuto did much of the damage in game two, with a 3-for-5, double, homerun, three RBI outing, while designated hitter Jeff Walker went 3-for-5 with a solo homerun.
