April 15, 2007

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(San Francisco, CA) - The University of San Francisco baseball team avoided a three game West Coast Conference sweep at the hands of No. 7 Pepperdine by taking the final game 5-4 over the Waves. The Dons (19-19, 3-6 WCC) hand the Waves (28-11, 8-1 WCC) their first conference loss of the season.

Dons pitchers held the Waves to only five base knocks in the contest, while USF recorded 10. Senior RHP John Quine (4-2) earned the win in relief, striking out six in 4.0 innings. Quine didn't allow a run off one hit and a walk. Senior LHP Cole Stipovich earned his first save of the season, facing one batter in the ninth and retiring him on a one-to-three put out. Junior RHP Tommy Peale started for the Dons, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs of four hits, two walks, and struck out four.

Junior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky homered for the second time in as many games, with a first inning two-RBI shot to right, putting the Dons up early 2-0. Junior right-fielder Luke Sommer had previously reached on a Texas-leaguer that caught some wind and fell to the left of Waves junior shortstop Danny Worth.

In the second, USF extended their lead when junior shortstop Brian Chavez singled and advanced to second on freshman third baseman Derek Poppert's sacrifice bunt. Chavez scored off junior second baseman Joey Railey's single to right. An inning later, the Dons made it 4-0 when Poppert doubled home senior designated hitter Jon Norfolk who singled to lead off the inning.

Pepperdine came within 4-3 in the fourth and tied it in the fifth off two consecutive doubles. But the Dons scored one of their own in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead which they never relinquished. Senior catcher Blake Nelson walked and advanced to third on Chavez's double to left. Poppert batted into a fielder's choice, scoring Nelson.

Norfolk, Chavez and Poppert all had two hits on the day, with Poppert adding two RBI. Bialosky had two RBI also. Railey, Sommer, and senior left fielder Jonnie Knoble each singled in the contest.

Waves freshman RHP Daniel Farris (2-1) earned the loss, allowing one earned run off one hit, a walk, and struck out two in 2.0 innings of relief. So. RHP Brett Hunter started for Pepperdine, allowing four earned runs off seven hits, four walks, and struck out three Dons.

USF returns to action at Benedetti Diamond this Tuesday, April 17 against Nevada in a make up game. The meeting had previously been scheduled to take place at Nevada, but had been changed due to snow earlier in the season. First pitch is set for 2:00 PM.