SAN FRANCISCO--- The University of San Francisco Dons scored 7 runs in the middle three innings as they held on to defeat the visiting SF State Gators, 8-4, in a non-conference game at USF's Benedetti Diamond. Catcher Travis Higgs drove in four of the Dons' 7 runs including three on a two-out bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fifth inning.

USF (21-20) twice in its half of the fourth inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Connor Bernatz led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Jason Mahood single up the middle. Stephen Yarrow reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a one-out double down the left field line by Higgs.

The Dons, who are in first place in the West Coast Conference, added three more runs in the fifth, all coming off the bat of Higgs' two-out bases-clearing double down the left field line. Artiz opened the inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a one-out infield single by Bernatz. With two outs, Yarrow walked to set the table for Higgs' bases clearing double.

USF added two more runs in the sixth to take a 7-0 lead going into the final three innings.

SF State made it a game in its half of the seventh inning. Dustin Wold walked with one out and advanced to second on a walk to Tyler Overstreet. Michael Cala then was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Drew Andersen hit a pinch-hit single to right field to drive in Wold with the Gators' first run of the game. Ivan Otsuka walked to drive in Overstreet with just one out. Ben Mielke, who finished the game 2-for-4 with a RBI, drove in Cala with a single to right field. With the bases still loaded, Michael Sanchez drove in Andersen on a sacrifice fly to cut into the Don lead, 7-4.

The Dons added an insurance run in the eighth on a RBI single by Bernatz that drove in Mason Morioka to give the hosts an 8-4 lead going into the ninth.

Jordan Remer came on in to pitch the ninth, and retired the Gators in order to preserve the Dons' 8-4 victory.

Sean Burns (1-0) picked up the victory for USF as he pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one. Burns was one of nine pitchers that the Dons used this afternoon. Besides Higgs' two hits, Garcia also had two hits and Bernatz finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs while scoring twice.

Nic Banaugh (3-3) recorded the loss for the Gators and was one of five pitchers that SF State used in the non-conference game this afternoon.

SF State (13-29) will return home this Friday, April 29 at 3pm, when the Gators begin a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series with the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros at Maloney Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader this Saturday, April 30 at 11am and then will wrap up the series this Sunday, May 1 for a single game also at 11am.

Box Score