University Southern California Trojans
Pepperdine Forces Final Regional Game with USC
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
May 30, 1999
LOS ANGELES - Three USC errors in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed the Pepperdine baseball team to score three unearned runs and capture a 4-3 victory at the NCAA Regional at Dedeaux Field, forcing a decisive game later today between the two teams.
Both USC and Pepperdine have now lost once in this tournament, meaning this afternoon,s rematch (slated to start at 4:05 p.m.) will decide who will advance to the super regionals.
The Trojans led, 2-1, entering the bottom of the seventh, but throwing errors on consecutive plays by USC freshman 3B Beau Craig scored one run and put another runner on second base with one out. Sophomore CF Austin Evans had an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring the go-ahead run, and went to third on another error when leftfielder Jason Lane had trouble picking up the ball. An RBI single by freshman LF Woody Cliffords made it 4-2.
It spoiled a strong effort by USC sophomore RHP Rik Currier (5-7), who went 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts while giving up seven hits, one walk, four runs (only one earned).
Pepperdine junior RHP Jay Gehrke (1-1) earned the victory by pitching the final 2 1/3 innings, though he gave up a solo home run to USC junior C Eric Munson in the top of the eighth that pulled the Trojans within one run. Gehrke retired the side in the top of the ninth, however, to end it.
USC 000-200-010 --- 3-8-4 PEP 000-010-30x --- 4-10-0Schenewerk, Gehrke (7) and Sardinha. Currier, Lane (7) and Munson. WP - Gehrke (1-1); LP - Currier (5-7). HR - USC: Munson (13).
