OSU Thumps Third-Ranked Southern California in Baseball, 13-6
March 8, 1998
LOS ANGELES - A three-run homer by Ben Bertrand capped Oregon State's seven-run second inning and Brody Percell pitched seven strong innings as the Beavers beat third-ranked Southern California 13-6 Sunday afternoon at Dedeaux Field.
After taking the final game of the three-game series from the Trojans, OSU (7-5-1 overall) now gets ready for its home opener against Portland, set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Coleman Field.
Oregon State's win on Sunday was the Beavers' first over USC since 1967 and OSU's first on the Trojans' home field since 1951.
The Beavers ended a 13-game losing streak in the series against Southern California; more importantly, they ended a four-game winless streak in the current season. "I said yesterday that if this is the No. 3 team in the country, then I'm excited because I think we can play with them," OSU head coach Pat Casey said. "But getting people to believe and to do that is another thing. I hope for the mental part (of the game), this can be a springboard and a foundation for this club. It's difficult to win on the road - we've played some good games and not gotten a win. But for these guys to stay with it and get the win is a big thing."
Added Bertrand: "It's a big win. To come down here, into their home yard, and compete with the No. 3 team. we could have won two of three easily. It's a shot in the arm and a confidence booster, which we needed."
After going four straight games without scoring more than two runs in any inning, the Beavers broke loose in the top of the second against USC lefthander Jason Saenz. Greg Conley doubled with one out and Matt Bailie walked, then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Brian Duerr drove them both in with a double for a 2-0 lead, then scored when Jason Stranberg's grounder was booted by the Trojan infield. Stranberg stole second - his third stolen base of the series - and Corrie Willkie was hit by a pitch; Matt Bailie then drove in Stranberg with a single to extend Bailie's hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. That left runners at first and third, and Saenz gave way to reliever Rik Currier. Bertrand greeted him with a towering home run just to the right of dead-center field to make it 7-0. "I'd been struggling all weekend," Bertrand said after his team-high fourth homer of the season. "I finally got a pitch up in my eyes and drove it out of the park."
The margin didn't last long. Percell, a senior lefthander, promptly allowed a pair of singles and a three-run homer by Brad Ticehurst in the bottom of the second; the Trojans got within 7-4 when Rod Perry Jr. doubled, took third on an error and stole home. At that point, Casey and Percell had a little talk. "It didn't have anything to do with mechanics or anything like that," Casey said. "Just competing and courage and being in an adversary situation where you've got to compete. He showed he wanted to compete, and he stayed in."
USC threatened again in the third when an error and a balk put a runner on third with no outs; Percell then struck out the side and allowed only two baserunners in the next three innings. Percell picked up his first win of the season, allowing six runs (only three earned) on eight hits and striking out a career-high eight. "It started in the second inning," Percell said. "Coach came out and reamed me out a bit. I was ticked off - I didn't want my debut against the third-ranked team like that, giving up four runs."
Percell noticed the Trojans jumping all over teammates Chris Pine and Andrew Checketts when they threw breaking pitches in the first two games of the series, and that changed his approach. He went with mostly fastballs, with great success. "My fastball had good movement on it, and they went after it," Percell said. "Ben (Bertrand, the catcher) said it was moving all over the place, and that helped a lot."
The Beavers upped their lead to 12-4 before Percell allowed two more runs in the seventh inning. Mike Boire pitched a perfect two innings to finish the game, striking out one. "It's just a great, great win for Oregon State," Casey said. "And it wasn't 4-3 or something like that. We came out and played the whole game and got a very, very solid win." Bertrand said any thoughts the Beavers had of cruising to a win disappeared with that four-run USC flurry in the bottom of the second. "We scored seven, then Brody gave up four," Bertrand said. "That took the relaxation off. It made us wake up and play nine innings."
OREGON STATE 13, NO. 3 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 6 Oregon State 070 120 201 - 13 13 3 Southern California 040 000 200 - 6 8 5
Percell, Boire (8) and Bertrand. Saenz, Currier (2), Weibling (6), Jones (7) and Munson. WP - Percell (1-2). LP - Sanez (1-2). 2B-Conley (OSU), Schader (OSU), Duerr (OSU), Perry (USC). HR-Bertrand (OSU), Ticehurst (USC), Gorr (USC). HITS: Oregon State 13 (Willkie 2-5, Bailie 1-4, Bertrand 1-5, Lipe 1-5, Conley 1-4, Schader 2-4, Duerr 2-5, Colley 3-5), Southern California 8 (Rachels 1-5, Gorr2-3, Ensberg 1-4, Lane 1-4, DePippo 1-3, Ticehurst 1-4, Perry 1-4). RUNS BATTED IN: Oregon State 12 (Willkie 2, Bailie 1, Bertrand 3, Lipe 1, Duerr 2, Colley 3).
