OSU drops 16-7 decision to USC
May 13, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Joe Gerber homered twice Saturday afternoon to set Oregon State's school record for runs batted in during a season, but the Beavers fell to No. 19 Southern California 16-7 in Pacific-10 baseball at Dedeaux Field. Gerber hit two-run homers in the first and ninth innings, driving in four runs to give him 66 RBIs thhis spring.
Going into Saturday's game, Gerber had shared the single-season RBI record with 62. The old mark was set by Jim Wilson in 1982 and tied by Rob Colley in 1998.
OSU (27-24 overall, 8-12 Pacific-10) and USC (34-18, 12-8) conclude their weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m. The game can be heard on KLOO-AM (1340).
Gerber's first-inning homer off USC righthander Mark Prior put Oregon State up 2-0, and the Beavers still led 2-1 going into the bottom of the third inning. With two out and runners at first and second, OSU starter Scott Nicholson left a one-ball, two-strike pitch out over the plate and USC's Beau Craig hit a three-run homer that put the Trojans in front to stay.
Nicholson, last week's Pacific-10 Pitcher of the Week, had given up just three home runs in 92 innings prior to Saturday but he gave up three to USC. After Craig's blast to left, the Beaver lefty also gave up a two-run homer to Rob Garibaldi before getting out of the third inning with OSU down 6-2.
"There's no doubt that it's difficult and frustrating to get a performance like we did from Scott last week, then have him give up 11 runs," OSU head coach Pat Casey said. "We faced a very good pitcher in Prior and we were a little banged up in spots, but we swung the bats well."
OSU was without centerfielder Eric Stark, who had suffered a mild concussion early in Friday night's loss but played almost all of that game. The Beavers still managed 12 hits, but couldn't keep pace with a Trojan lineup that finished with 16 hits and four home runs.
"We've played two games and haven't committed an error, but we've given up 28 runs," Casey said. "That's very uncharacteristic for us, because our pitching has been solid for the most part this year."
Oregon State did manage to scratch its way back into the game, picking up a sacrifice fly from Josh Carter in the fourth inning and an unearned run in the fifth to get within 6-4. USC came back with a three-run fifth inning to make it 9-4, then the Beavers loaded the bases with none out in the top of the sixth.
Prior struck out Bryan Ingram, and a passed ball brought home one run and left two runners in scoring position with one out. Prior fanned Zach Gordon and walked pinch-hitter Tim Dryden to load the bases, reliever Ronald Flores then got Drew Hedges to fly out to centerfield to end the inning.
Prior got the win for his 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out 10.
Nicholson had his roughest outing of the year for OSU, in 5 2/3 innings, he allowed 11 runs (all earned) on 11 hits and three walks, striking out three.
NO. 19 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 16, OREGON STATE 7
Oregon State 200 111 002 - 7 12 0 Southern California 105 032 14x - 16 16 3Nicholson, Copeland (6), Hays (8) and Ingram, Biles (8). Prior, Flores (6), Montrenes (9) and Craig. 2B-Barden (OSU), Craig (USC), Peavey (USC), Montanez (USC). HR-Gerber 2 (OSU), Persell (USC), Gemoll (USC), Craig (USC), Garibaldi (USC).
HITS: Oregon State 12 (Hedges 2x5, Hudson 1x5, Gerber 2x5, Barden 2x4, Jarvis 3x5, Carter 2x4), Southern California 16 (Davidson 2x4, Persell 2x4, Gemoll 4x5, Craig 2x5, Lunetta 1x4, Garibaldi 2x4, Concepcion 1x2, Peavey 1x1, Montanez 1x5). RUNS BATTED IN: Oregon State 5 (Gerber 4, Carter 1), Southern California 16 (Persell 2, Gemoll 3, Craig 3, Garibaldi 4, Concepcion 1, Peavey 2, Montanez 1).
