Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- The San Francisco Dons handed the Portland Pilots a 10-3 loss on Friday afternoon in the first of a three-game West Coast Conference series at Benedetti Diamond. It is the fifth consecutive loss for the Pilots (31-14, 11-5), while the Dons (25-25, 8-8) move to .500 both overall and in the conference standings with the victory.
Portland sophomore right-hander Kyle Kraus (9-2) was the tough-luck loser for the second week in a row. After tossing 8.1 solid innings and allowing just two runs last Friday against San Diego, Kraus allowed five runs in six inning of work against the Dons. Only one of the runs was earned as two Pilot errors were costly.
The Dons scored first in the third inning as Robert Abel got aboard with a single, stole second and then advanced to third on a throwing error on the play. He would come in to score on a base hit by Jason Mahood.
USF went up 5-0 with four unearned runs in the fifth inning. Pete Lavin reached on a fielding error to start the inning and Kraus hit Mahood with the next pitch. After a successful sacrifice moved the runners into scoring position, Kraus picked up a big strikeout. But USF would rally with four consecutive two-out hits, including a two-run single by Ryan Lipkin to take control of the game.
Portland answered in the top of the sixth with three runs. C.J. Cullen had a one-out single and scored easily on a triple by Beau Fraser. Kyle Haskin and Rocky Gale added RBI-doubles to account for the final two runs.
The Dons would hold the Pilots scoreless over the final three innings and tack on five insurance runs against the Portland bullpen to run away with the win.
USF starter Doug Murray (8-5) picked up the win, going seven strong innings and striking out three Pilots. DH Chris Dittmann had two hits and drove in four runs, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning. Seven Dons collected two or more hits in the ballgame.
Gale drilled two doubles and finished 3-for-4 to lead the Pilots at the plate. Cullen and Kyle Haskin were the only other Portland players with multiple hits.
USF had 18 hits in the game and committed one error, while Portland had nine hits and two miscues.
The two teams meet again on Saturday at 1 p.m. and will then conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Portland will send Zach Varce (5-2, 3.45 ERA) to the mound on Saturday to face San Francisco’s Matt Lujan (6-4, 4.21 ERA).
