University Southern California Trojans
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USC Baseball Defeats UCLA In Non-Conference Game
February 25, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2000
LOS ANGELES -- Sophomore pitcher Mark Prior (Bonita/University HS/Vanderbilt) struck out 13 batters in 7 and 2/3 innings, as the No. 9 USC Trojans (8-3) held on for the 10-7 victory over the No. 8 UCLA Bruins (7-6) in a non-conference game Friday at Dedeaux Field.
Prior (3-1) retired 18 straight Bruins, including five straight by strikeout, until the eighth inning when he hit UCLA center fielder Charles Merricks with a pitch. With the bases loaded, reliever Ronald Flores allowed a two-run single to pinch hitter Matt Pearl and a three-run homer by catcher Forrest Johnson. He got designated hitter Adam Berry to pop up to third to end the Bruins' five-run inning.
With runners at first and third with two outs in the ninth, Pete Montrenes retired Bruins left fielder Bill Scott with a fly ball to right field to record his first collegiate save. Jon Brandt (1-2) took the loss for the Bruins.
Center fielder Brian Barre led the way for the Trojans by going 5-for-5 with four singles, a double and one RBI. The Trojans scored six in the seventh, in part to a bases-loaded, two-run single by catcher Beau Craig and a three-run home run by designated hitter Josh Persell, his first of the season.
The Trojans will host the UCLA Bruins tomorrow at Dedeaux Field at 1 p.m. to continue the non-conference series with the finale on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m.
