05/06/05 – University of San Francisco

Pereira earned his ninth win of the season, good for second place on the USF single-season chart USF Downs Santa Clara 3-2 Behind Complete Game Gem From Nick Pereira (Santa Clara) – USF got an outstanding pitching performance from senior right-handed pitcher Nick Pereira and home runs from Scott Cousins and Jon Norfolk in a 3-2 West Coast Conference victory against Santa Clara Friday night at Stephen Schott Stadium. The Dons (33-14, 16-6 WCC) did their damage early against the Broncos (23-23, 7-14 WCC) but Pereira (9-2) was masterful in hurling his third complete game of the season. Pereira struck out 12 and retired eight in a row including four consecutive strikeouts. After giving up a leadoff homer to junior infielder Michael Thompson in the ninth, the Cupertino native struck out the next two hitters and got a flyout to end the contest. With the victory, Pereira moves into sole possession of second place on the Dons single-season wins chart. Freshman shortstop Tavo Hall singled with one out in the first and scored on a deep drive to right by Cousins, who connected for his team-leading sixth home run of the season and fifth in eight games. Then Norfolk led off the second with a solo shot to left center for his first career collegiate homer. USF would not score again as senior right-hander Anthony Rea (4-6) settled down and went the distance for the Broncos, allowing three runs off nine hits and recorded six strikeouts and issued just one walk. Junior outfielder Jonnie Knoble and Hall each collected a pair of base hits for the Dons who finished with nine on the evening. San Francisco takes on Santa Clara in game two of the WCC series Saturday. First pitch against the Broncos is slated for 1:00 PM at Schott Stadium.