SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of the Pacific baseball team fell in game two of the West Coast Conference series opener to the University of San Francisco, 9-1. The Dons lead the series, 2-0.

Pacific falls to 7-12 on the season and 0-2 in conference play, while USF improves to 11-7 overall and 2-0 in WCC action.

The Dons jumped out to a 6-0 lead early, scoring four runs in the first and two in the second. Michael Perri hit a single through the left side to score Johnathan Allen for the first run. Ross Puskarich followed suit with a single down the right field line to score Perri for the 2-0 lead. It was the two-run homer by Riley Helland that set the pace for the rest of the game.

In the bottom of the second, the Dons hit back-to-back singles to score two more runs to increase the lead, 6-0.

After three scoreless innings, the Tigers ended the Dons' shutout in the sixth to trail 6-1. Matthew Tarantino hit a leadoff bunt to reach first, but advanced to third on a fielder's choice to get James Free out at first. So, with one out, Lucas Halstead stepped up to try his hand at the bat and hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to score Tarantino and get the Tigers on the board.

However, that was not enough, as USF went on to score three more runs and close out the contest, 9-1.

Pacific connected for four hits with Kevin Sandri, Tarantino, Free, and Halstead each tallying one hit. Halstead tallied one RBI. 

Bryce Kirk saw his first collegiate appearance behind the plate and registered two putouts.

Lucas Sweany was charged with the loss, after pitching 1.1 innings and striking out three batters. Riley Ornido (4-0) picked up the win for the Dons' after pitching seven innings with five strikeouts and giving up just one run.

The Orange and Black return to action tomorrow to close out the conference series opener against the University of San Francisco and first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.