Dons Win Opener, 12-0

SAN FRANCISCO—Defending champion San Francisco blanked BYU baseball Thursday afternoon, 12-0.

The second-place Cougars (17-16, 6-4) were stung in the West Coast Conference by the Dons (20-25, 7-6) by virtue of 10 unearned runs.

Compounding BYU’s four errors was an offense that stalled with bases loaded situations in the second and third innings as USF’s lead soared to 8-0.  BYU tallied four hits, all singles through three innings until Brock Whitney doubled in the ninth.   USF’s belted 13 hits, including three doubles.

The Dons’ third baseman Aritz Garcia went 2-for-3 with three RBI and catcher Mason Marioca, a high school teammate of BYU pitcher Marc Oslund, went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the shutout.

That shutout was the fourth against BYU this season--at UC Riverside, at Creighton and at No. 4 Arkansas.

The two teams meet on Friday afternoon when Oslund takes the mound for the second of a three-game series at Benedetti Diamond.