April 30, 2011

Box Score

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Two Lion errors in the bottom of the 10th inning resulted in a 5-4 walk-off victory for USF (23-20, 9-2) over LMU (21-19, 5-6) on Saturday at USF's Benedetti Diamond. The second error, charged to Jonathan Johnson, came with the bases loaded and two out. Saturday was the first extra-inning game of the year for LMU.

Joe Vierra had another solid day against a WCC-foe, finishing 2-for-5 with three RBI, including the game-tying runs in the eighth to knot the tally at four. Sophomore Matt Lowenstein went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk out of the leadoff spot, but LMU stranded six runners on base and failed on multiple occasions to get a bunt down in a prime sacrifice opportunity.

Junior Alex Gillingham got the start and took a no decision after tossing six and a third innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four. Matt Florer contributed an inning and a third in relief before Ryan Hawthorne went the final two innings and allowed the unearned run to take the loss. With the decision, Hawthorne fell to 0-3.

Stephen Yarrow helped pace the USF offensive attack, batting 2-for-5 with a home run. The round-tripper was Yarrow's fourth of the year. Aritz Garcia also had a stellar day at the plate out of the ninth spot, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

Kyle Zimmer also took a no decision as the USF starter, lasting seven innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six. After Elliott Watterman allowed two unearned runs to knot the tally at four, Jordan Remer pitched two scoreless frames to claim the victory and improve to 2-2. The two innings were far from clean for Remer, as the lefty walked one and hit two batters before working out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to keep the game tied at four.

After a scoreless first inning, USF got on the board with a run in the second. A one-out walk to Nik Balog came back to bite Gillingham when Ted Lemasters reached with a bunt single to set the table for a two-out RBI-single down the left field line from Tom Barry.

LMU, which never led on Saturday, got back to even at one in the fourth. Lowenstein led things off with a single before an error put runners at first and second with nobody out. Matt Koch followed by popping up a bunt for the first out before a balk and a Vierra productive groundout to second base brought home the run.

The Dons refused to surrender any momentum, reclaiming the lead at 2-1 with another two-out run in the home-half of the fourth. A one-out hit-by-pitch hurt Gillingham when Garcia laced a double past a diving Jason Barmasse in right centerfield to bring home the run all the way from first.

LMU would once again answer back with a run in the fifth as Zac Fujimoto tripled off the wall in right field and came around to score on a groundout from Barmasse. The 2-2 tie was short lived as USF took a 3-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Connor Bernatz and Yarrow reached with a walk and single, respectively, before LMU got two outs on an unusual play. Jason Mahood reached with a fielder's choice with the runners at the corners as he lined a ball back to Gillingham. The right-hander couldn't make the catch, but fired to second for the force out. The throw was then routed to the plate where LMU managed to record the second out in the rundown. Thanks to a lengthy rundown, Mahood managed to scamper all the way to third on the play, setting the table for a two-out RBI single from Balog.

After Yarrow homered with one out in the seventh to give USF a 4-2 lead, LMU managed to knot the tally at four in the eighth. A walk to Barmasse got the ball rolling before Nick Devian struck out for the first out. Lowenstein followed by reaching via a base on balls before Johnson hit into a fielder's choice that resulted in a throwing error charged to Balog, leaving the bases loaded for Koch. The right-handed hitter couldn't connect en route to striking out for the second out, but Vierra came up clutch by winning a long at bat and blooping a two-RBI single into shallow left centerfield.

The Lions had a golden opportunity in the ninth inning as it put two runners on with nobody out against Remer. After falling behind 3-0 to Fujimoto, who was trying to bunt the runners along, Remer worked back to full and recorded the strikeout without allowing the runners to advance. Barmasse followed with a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.

USF took the victory in the 10th, taking advantage of a pair of costly errors. Jared Denham singled before a throwing error charged to Sean McIntyre on a sacrifice bunt attempt put runners at first and second. The Dons successfully sacrificed the runners on the ensuing play before LMU elected to intentionally walk Garcia to load the bases and set up a possible double play. The move proved effective when Hawthorne punched-out Pete Lavin for the second out, but things took a turn for the worst on the ensuing play. Hawthorne got a routine ground ball to shortstop, but Roe's underhand flip couldn't be handled by Johnson, allowing the winning run to score.

The Lions will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow when the two teams meet at 1 p.m.