USC Baseball Looks To Extend Six-Game Win Streak

March 6, 2000

This Week's Schedule

Tuesday, March 7 vs. UC Santa Barbara - 3 p.m.
Friday, March 10 vs. Houston - 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 vs. Houston - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 12 vs. Houston - 1 p.m.

LOS ANGELES - The No. 5 USC baseball team - winner of 12 NCAA championships, more than twice as many as any other school - is 11-3 to start the 2000 season and has won its last six games. The Trojans defeated Georgia Tech, 9-2, on Friday (March 3) and Mississippi State, 7-1 (five innings), on Saturday (March 4) in the rain-shortened Kia Baseball Bash at Cal State Fullerton.

RANKINGS - USC is No. 5 in the latest Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls and No. 7 in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches' poll. UC Santa Barbara is not ranked in any polls. Houston is ranked No. 10 in Baseball America, No. 13 in USA Today Baseball Weekly and No. 17 in Collegiate Baseball.

USA BASEBALL - USC coach Mike Gillespie will serve as Head Coach of the 2000 USA Baseball National Team of collegiate all-stars that will play on the US WEST Red, White and Blue Summer Tour. USC assistant coach John Savage will serve as the pitching coach for Team USA.

TEAM OF THE 20TH CENTURY - No other university can match the collegiate baseball tradition of USC, and it showed when Baseball America awarded the Trojans the title of "Greatest Program of the 20th Century" in its Feb. 1, 1999 issue. Troy has an unprecedented 12 NCAA championships (no other school has more than five), 36 conference titles and 19 College World Series appearances (second most in the nation). Legendary former coach Rod Dedeaux was named "Coach of the Century" by both Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. Trojan players have been named All-American first teamers 41 times, and 80 players have gone on to play in the majors, including such stars as Tom Seaver, Fred Lynn, Ron Fairly, Randy Johnson, Mark McGwire, Jeff Cirillo and Bret Boone.

PAC-10 POWERHOUSE - USC, certainly among the strongest teams annually in the Pac-10, has many highlights over the last few years to prove it:

With its College World Series title in 1998, USC is the only Pacific-10 Conference team to have won a national championship in the last 11 years.

With 224 victories over the last five seasons (1995-99), USC ranked first among Pac-10 teams.

USC is the only Pac-10 school to have finished in the Top 10 national rankings in eight of the last 10 years.

USC has made it to an NCAA Regional final seven straight years (best among Pac-10 teams) and has earned NCAA Tournament bids nine of the last 10 years (tied with Stanford for best in the Pac-10).

USC has reached the College World Series championship game twice in the last five years (only one other Pac-10 team has made it once in the last 11 years).

COACH'S CORNER - Mike Gillespie, in his 14th season as the Trojans' head coach, has a 530-296-2 (.641) career record and has led USC to the 1998 national championship, three conference titles (1991-95-96), 11 trips to the NCAA Regionals in 13 years (reaching the regional finals nine times), and trips to the 1995 and 1998 College World Series (Troy finished as the nation's runner-up in 1995). He was named the 1998 National Coach of the Year, the Pac-10 Coach of the Year three times (1991-95-96) and the West Region Coach of the Year twice (1996-98). The starting leftfielder on USC's 1961 NCAA-winning team, he is one of just two men who have both coached and played on championship teams.

COACHING SUPERLATIVES- Legendary USC coach Rod Dedeaux was named College Coach of the Century for baseball in the February issue of Coach & Athletic Director Magazine. Dedeaux led the Trojan baseball team to an unprecedented 11 College World Series titles (including five in a row in the 1970s) and amassed a 1,332-571-11 record during his 45-year (1942-86) tenure at Troy.

PAC-10 PRESEASON POLL - In a preseason poll of the Pac-10 coaches, USC was picked to finish third. In order, the poll went as follows: Stanford (six first-place votes), UCLA (two first-place votes), USC, Arizona (one first-place vote), California, Arizona State, Washington, Washington State and Oregon State.

DR. NO-NO - Junior Rik Currier (Dana Point/Capistrano Valley HS) found out on Sunday morning (March 5) that he had pitched the sixth no-hitter in school history after USC's March 4 game against Mississippi State, which was suspended after the fifth inning due to rain, was declared official. Currier allowed one earned run with six strikeouts and five walks:

USC No-Hitters
Joe Gonzales (9) vs. Stanford, 3/26/37 USC 8-0
Jerry Merz (9) vs. BYU, 3/23/61 USC 3-0
Ron Cook (8) vs. Pacific, 4/5/66 USC 12-0
Russ McQueen (9) vs. California, 3/30/74 USC 7-0
Brad Brink (7) and Brian Brooks (2) vs. Cal State Los Angeles, 2/18/86 USC 2-1
Rik Currier (5) vs. Mississippi State, 3/4/00 USC 7-1

PRIOR NOTICE - Sophomore Pitcher Mark Prior (Bonita/University HS/Vanderbilt) is showing early in the 2000 season why he earned All-America honors in his freshman season last year at Vanderbilt. Prior has a 4-1 record with a 1.76 ERA. In 41 innings of work, Prior has allowed 26 hits, struck out 45 batters and walked 11 as opponents have hit a measly .183 against him. He recorded his first collegiate save on Feb. 15 at Cal State Fullerton after pitching 1 1/3 innings with one hit and two strikeouts in the Trojans' 7-6 win against the Titans. He was named to the Baseball America 2000 preseason All-American second team.

A WEEK TO REMEMBER - Mark Prior had an impact in three games during the week of Feb. 21. On Tuesday (Feb. 22), Prior pitched two innings and recorded the win as the designated starter in USC's 7-3 win against the University of San Diego. He did not allow a hit, striking out four and walking one. On Friday (Feb. 25), he pitched seven and 2/3 innings to pick up his second straight win as the Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins, 10-7. Prior retired 19 straight batters and, at one point, struck out five straight batters en route to a 13-strikeout performance. He scattered four hits and walked two Bruins. The following day, in a pinch-hit role, Prior singled to center and scored third baseman Justin Gemoll in the bottom of the ninth for the Trojans' 4-3 victory.

"BARRE"D TREASURE - Sophomore center fielder Brian Barre has exploded lately after a 2-for-11 start. Barre (Garden Grove/Pacifica HS) is second on the team with a .415 batting average (22-for-53) with two home runs and seven RBI. He had an eight-game hitting streak from Feb. 12-27 and hit .528 (19-for-36) during that time. He went 5-for-5 with four singles and a double on Feb. 25 vs. UCLA and set a personal-best with two home runs on Feb. 15 at Cal State Fullerton.

BEAU KNOWS - Sophomore catcher Beau Craig (Santee/Grossmont HS), a 1998 third-round selection by the San Diego Padres, has been the offensive juggernaut for the Trojans this season. He has a .321 batting average (18-for-56) and leads the team in home runs (six) and RBI (17).

"K"LIMBING UP THE CHARTS - Rik Currier, with 37 strikeouts this season, is now in 15th place on USC's all-time career list with 225 strikeouts. He needs four strikeouts to tie John Herbst (1965-67) for 15th place. This season, he started in 21st place and has passed such pitchers as Randy Johnson (1983-85 with 206) and Bill Lee (1966-68 with 211). As the team's No. 2 starter, Currier has a 4-1 record with a 2.88 ERA.

Career Strikeouts

10. Greg Widman, 1970-72	244
11. Brad Brink, 1984-86	241
12. Jackie Nickell, 1988-92	238
13. Ken Yaryan, 1960-62	236
14. John Herbst, 1965-67	229
15. Rik Currier, 1998-00	225

LUNAR ECLIPSE - Freshman second baseman Anthony Lunetta (Riverside/Arlington HS) has made an impact at the plate. He leads the team with a .453 batting average (24-for-53) and has one error in 62 chances (.984). He went 5-for-5 in his collegiate debut on Jan. 29 at Pepperdine.

WHO'S HOT
2B Anthony Lunetta: .833 (5-for-6) in last two games, 2 doubles, 2 RBI
1B Bill Peavey: .571 (4-for-7) in last two games, 1 HR, 2 doubles, 5 RBI
RHP Mark Prior: five earned runs in last 26.1 innings (1.71 ERA), 32 SO, 8 BB, has won in each of his last three starts

NEWS & NOTES - Anthony Lunetta went 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI at the Kia Baseball Bash in Fullerton on March 3 and 4...Josh Self made his first start of the season in right field on Feb. 26 vs. UCLA, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. His best plays, however, were in the field as he threw out one runner at third and a one-hop throw to home in the top of the ninth kept the possible go-ahead run at third in the Trojans' 4-3 win...Center fielder Brian Barre went 5-for-5 with four singles and a double on Feb. 25 vs. UCLA...Right fielder Rob Garibaldi hit his first home run of the season on Feb. 22 vs. the University of San Diego in the Trojans' 7-3 win over the Toreros.

DEDEAUX FIELD - This season marks the 26th year of play at Dedeaux Field, where USC has an all-time record of 556-248-1 (.691). When USC hosted San Diego State on March 30, 1999, it was 25 years to the day from when the first game was played at Dedeaux Field. It was a special opening day in 1974, as in the first game of a doubleheader, Russ McQueen threw a no-hitter against California.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES - Junior SS Seth Davidson appears on two preseason All-American teams, as a second-team selection in Collegiate Baseball and a third-team pick in Baseball America. Sophomore RHP Mark Prior, a transfer from Vanderbilt, made the Baseball America second team. In Baseball America's Pac-10 preview, UT Alberto Concepcion was named the conference's Freshman of the Year, Prior, Concepcion and sophomore OF Aaron Fausett were listed as the first, second and fourth top newcomers, respectively, and freshman Anthony Lunetta was named the conference's top defensive second baseman.

THE RETURNERS - The Trojans return only three position starters and one starting pitcher from the 1999 team, but it's a group that makes up a nice nucleus. Junior SS Seth Davidson, a two-time All-Pac-10 pick, starts for the third straight year. Sophomore C Beau Craig was a Freshman All-American last season. Senior 3B Justin Gemoll provides a steady bat and glove. Junior RHP Rik Currier is one of the top strikeout artists in USC history. Other returners who are poised to make a larger impact in 2000 are OF Brian Barre, RHP Tanner Eriksen, LHP Ronald Flores, RHP Pete Montrenes, UT Josh Persell, RHP Tim Petke and UT Josh Self.

THE NEWCOMERS - It'll be difficult to distinguish the players apart without a program in 2000, as 20 of the 38 players are new to the roster. But it's a talented group, as Collegiate Baseball ranked the newcomers as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country (Baseball America ranked them second). The Trojans have added a pair of transfers from Vanderbilt - RHP Mark Prior and OF Aaron Fausett - and both were named Freshman All-Americans last season. OF Rob Garibaldi was the Northern California JC Player of the Year last season at Santa Rosa. Among the key freshmen are RHP Chad Clark, UT Alberto Concepcion, IF Anthony Lunetta and RHP Anthony Reyes.

1999 RECAP - Despite a rough start, USC rebounded nicely to post a successful 1999 season. The Trojans went 36-26 overall, 17-7 for second place in the Pac-10, won their own NCAA Los Angeles Regional and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals before losing at Stanford. LHP Barry Zito was named the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year and was a unanimous All-American first teamer. C Eric Munson and OF/LHP Jason Lane were also named to at least one All-American first team. Early-season injuries and close losses saw the Trojans get off to a 4-11 start, but they went 29-12 the rest of the regular season.

Please Note:
Tuesday's game, originally scheduled at UC Santa Barbara, will now be played at Dedeaux Field at 3 p.m.

Opponent Outlook

UC Santa Barbara
Tuesday, March 7 - Dedeaux Field - 3 p.m.

SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS - UC Santa Barbara split two games last week and did not play over the weekend. The Gauchos (8-7) defeated Westmont, 16-0, at home on Thursday (March 2) and lost to Loyola Marymount, 11-9, at home on Monday (March 1). Third baseman Dave Molidor is leading the Gauchos with a .368 batting average and has three home runs, 21 RBI and a .649 slugging percentage. Head Coach Bob Brontsema is in his seventh season at UC Santa Barbara.

THE SERIES - USC holds a 75-33-1 all-time advantage against UC Santa Barbara in a series that dates back to the 1921 season.

Houston
Friday, March 10 - Dedeaux Field - 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 - Dedeaux Field - 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 12 - Dedeaux Field - 1 p.m.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS - No. 10 Houston has recorded some impressive wins to move up the national polls, including a rare three-game series sweep at LSU in convincing fashion (10-2, 11-7, 10-2). The team is batting .302 and has a 19-8 margin in home runs. Catcher/first baseman Jarrod Bitter leads the team with a .414 batting average (29-for-70) with one home run and 14 RBI while infielder J.P. Woodward and third baseman/catcher Kris Wilken are tied for the team lead with three home runs each. No. 1 starter Kyle Crowell is 3-1 on the season with a 2.21 ERA. In 36.2 innings, Crowell has allowed 35 hits, struck out 29 batters and walked eight. Head Coach Rayner Noble is in his sixth season with the Cougars. He led Houston last season to its best season in a decade (40-24), its first conference championship (Conference USA) in 39 years and the first NCAA Regional held at Cougar Field (the Cougars were the No. 1 seed).

THE SERIES - The Trojans are 4-0 all-time against the Cougars. The teams last faced each other in 1990.

PROBABLE STARTERS

	Houston	USC
Friday	Kyle Crowell (RHP)	Mark Prior (RHP)
	3-1, 2.21	4-1, 1.76
Saturday	Shane Nance (LHP)	Rik Currier (RHP)
	3-1, 2.55	4-1, 2.88
Sunday	Duncan McAdoo (RHP)	Anthony Reyes (RHP)	2-1, 7.71	1-1, 3.45

USC Rankings In National Polls

	Baseball	Collegiate	USA Today
Date	America	Baseball	BB Weekly/ESPN
Preseason	11th	15th	11th
Feb. 7	6th	17th	N/A
Feb. 14	9th	17th	15th
Feb. 21	9th	16th	14th
Feb. 28	7th	11th	11th
March 6	5th	5th	7th

National Polls (As of March 6, 2000)

Baseball America

1.	Florida State
2.	Stanford
3.	Cal State Fullerton
4.	Baylor
5.	USC
6.	Texas
7.	North Carolina
8.	Alabama
9.	Auburn
10.	Houston
11.	LSU
12.	South Carolina
13.	Arizona State
14.	Miami
15.	Wichita State
16.	Clemson
17.	Long Beach State
18.	Louisiana-Lafayette
19.	Fresno State
20.	Wake Forest
21.	Georgia Tech
22.	Nevada
23.	East Carolina
24.	Kentucky
25.	Loyola Marymount

Collegiate Baseball

1.	Florida State
2.	North Carolina
3.	Stanford
4.	Texas
5.	USC
6.	Auburn
7.	Cal State Fullerton
8.	Clemson
9.	Alabama
10.	Miami
11.	South Carolina
12.	Baylor
13.	Wichita State
14.	Long Beach State
15.	Arizona State
16.	LSU
17.	Houston
18.	Georgia Tech
19.	Louisiana-Lafayette
20.	Kentucky
21.	East Carolina
22.	Fresno State
23.	Illinois
24.	Florida Atlantic
25.	Tennessee

USA Today Baseball Weekly / ESPN

1.	Florida State
2.	North Carolina
3.	Stanford
4.	Auburn
5.	Texas
6.	Baylor
7.	USC
8.	Alabama
9.	South Carolina
10.	Clemson
11.	Miami
12.	Arizona State
13.	Houston
14.	Long Beach State
15.	Wichita State
16.	LSU
17.	Cal State Fullerton
18.	Louisiana-Lafayette
19.	Kentucky
20.	Georgia Tech
21.	Florida International
22.	Fresno State
23.	Wake Forest
24.	Tennessee
25.	Mississippi State

USC Probable Starters

C	#9	Beau Craig	.321, 6 HR, 17 RBI
1B	#50	Bill Peavey	.273, 2 HR, 11 RBI or
	#13	Alberto Concepcion	.276, 0 HR, 5 RBI
2B	#24	Anthony Lunetta	.453, 2 HR, 13 RBI
3B	#26	Justin Gemoll	.360, 3 HR, 11 RBI
SS	#2	Seth Davidson	.224, 0 HR, 3 RBI
LF	#33	Aaron Fausett	.317, 0 HR, 3 RBI
CF	#6	Brian Barre	.415, 2 HR, 7 RBI
RF	#15	Rob Garibaldi	.321, 1 HR, 9 RBI or
	#10	Josh Self	.222, 1 HR, 3 RBI
DH	#22	Josh Persell	.303, 1 HR, 6 RBI

P (3/10)	#21	Mark Prior	4-1 record, 1.76 ERA
P (3/11)	#8	Ric Currier	4-1 record, 2.88 ERA
P (3/12)	#23	Anthony Reyes	1-1 record, 3.45 ERA

SEASON HIGHS

Team Highs - Batting

Runs	10, vs. UCLA (2/25)
Hits	17, at Loyola Marymount (2/8), at Texas Tech (2/12)
Doubles	6, vs. Mississippi State (3/4)
Triples	2, at Texas Tech (2/12)
Home Runs	3, vs. Pepperdine (1/30), vs. LMU (2/8),
	at Texas Tech (2/13), at Cal State Fullerton (2/15)
Stolen Bases	3, vs. UCLA (2/26)
Strikeouts	11, at Texas Tech (2/13)
Walks	9, vs. Long Beach State (2/4) and vs. Georgia Tech (3/4)

Individual Highs - Batting

Hits	5, Anthony Lunetta vs. Pepperdine (1/29) and
	Brian Barre vs. UCLA, (2/25)
Home Runs	2, Beau Craig at Texas Tech (2/13) and
	Brian Barre at Cal State Fullerton (2/15)
RBI	4, Josh Persell vs. UCLA (2/25)
Runs	3, Anthony Lunetta vs. Georgia Tech (3/3)
Stolen Bases	2, Brian Barre vs. UCLA (2/26)

Team Highs - Pitching

Hits	18, at Texas Tech (2/13)
Walks	10, at Cal State Fullerton (2/15)
Doubles	6, at Texas Tech (2/13)
Triples	1, at Long Beach State (2/5) and at Cal State Fullerton (2/15)
Home Runs	2, at Texas Tech (2/12), at Texas Tech (2/13) and
	vs. UCLA (2/26)

Individual Highs - Pitching

Innings	8 1/3, Mark Prior at Texas Tech (2/11)
Strikeouts	13, Mark Prior vs. UCLA (2/25)

STARTING PITCHERS
(results are from starts only)

PRIOR	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	W/L
at Pepperdine (1/29)	7	5	1	2	5	W
vs. Long Beach St. (2/4)	7.2	7	2	1	8	ND
at Texas Tech (2/11)	8.1	3	0	3	7	L
vs. Univ. of San Diego (2/22)	2	0	0	1	4	W
vs. UCLA (2/25)	7.2	4	4	2	13	W
vs. Georgia Tech (3/3)	7	6	1	2	6	W

CURRIER	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	W/L
vs. Pepperdine (1/30)	5	4	1	2	8	W
at Long Beach St. (2/5)	4	7	3	1	3	L
at Texas Tech (2/12)	7.2	6	2	2	7	W
vs. UCLA (2/26)	8	6	3	5	7	W
vs. Mississippi State (3/4)	5	0	1	5	6	W

REYES	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	W/L
vs. Long Beach St. (2/6)	6	5	1	4	2	W
at Texas Tech (2/13)	3.2	9	4	2	4	L

MONTRENES	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	W/L
at Loyola Marymount (2/8)	5	5	0	3	3
at Cal State Fullerton (2/15)	1.2	4	5	3	3	ND

2000 Superlatives

1-run games	3-1
2-run games	0-0
3-run games	1-0
4-run games	2-0
5+ run games	5-2

USC scores first	7-2
Opponent scores first	4-1

Day games	7-3
Night games	4-0

Extra innings	1-0

USC ahead after 5 innings	8-1
USC behind after 5 innings	1-2
Tied after 5 innings	2-0

USC ahead after 8 innings	8-1
USC behind after 8 innings	0-2
Tied after 8 innings	2-0

Against top 10 teams	4-0
Against top 25 teams	7-1

USC scores 10+ runs	1-0
Opponent scores 10+ runs	0-2

USC has 0-9 hits	5-3
USC has 10+ hits	6-0

USC has more hits	9-1
Opponent has more hits	0-2
Hits are equal	2-0

USC hits 0 home runs	2-2
USC hits 1 home run	6-0
USC hits 2+ home runs	3-1

USC makes 0 errors	6-0
USC makes 1 error	3-1
USC makes 2+ errors	2-2

USC has more errors	2-3
Opponent has more errors	4-0
Errors are equal	4-0

USC draws more walks	5-1
Opponent draws more walks	5-2
Walks are equal	1-0

On Mondays	0-0
On Tuesdays	2-0
On Wednesdays	0-0
On Fridays	3-1
On Saturdays	4-1
On Sundays	2-1

In January	2-0
In February	7-3
In March	0-0
In April	0-0
In May	0-0

Wearing white jerseys	6-0
Wearing red jerseys	4-1
Wearing grey jerseys	1-2

PLAYER CAPSULES

#6, Brian Barre, CF, L-L
.415, 2 HR, 7 RBI, Streak: 1 (.333, 1-3)
Started in 12 games this season...second on the team in batting average...had eight-game hitting streak snapped on March 3...went 5-for-5 with a double and an RBI on 2/25 vs. UCLA...set a career-high with two home runs on 2/15 at Cal State Fullerton, went 2-for-4 with two RBI...went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base on 2/13 at Texas Tech...errorless in 22 chances this season...has six multiple-hit games this season.

#13, Alberto Concepcion, UT, R-R
.276, 0 HR, 5 RBI, Streak: 2 (.500, 2-4)
Started in seven games this season...went 2-for-4 in his collegiate debut on 1/29 at Pepperdine...went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI on 2/4 vs. Long Beach State.

#9, Beau Craig, C, S-R
.321, 6 HR, 17 RBI, Streak: 0 (.000, 0-0)
Started in every game this season...leads the team in home runs and RBI...hit his sixth home run of the season in a 2-for-4 performance with three RBI on 2/25 vs. UCLA...celebrated his 21st birthday by going 3-for-6 with a double, home run and two RBI on 2/12 at Texas Tech...in the next game on 2/13 at Texas Tech, he went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBI...opened the season by going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI on 1/29 at Pepperdine.

#2, Seth Davidson, SS, S-R
.224, 0 HR, 3 RBI, Streak: 0 (.000, 0-0)
Started in every game this season...leads the team in stolen bases (five)...has two errors in 63 chances this season (.968)...has three multiple-hit games this season...named to the 2000 Collegiate Baseball preseason All-American second team and Baseball America preseason All-American third team.

#33, Aaron Fausett, LF, R-R
.317, 0 HR, 3 RBI, Streak: 0 (.000, 0-0)
Started in 10 games this season...went 3-for-6 with an RBI on 2/12 at Texas Tech...earned 1999 Freshman All-American first team honors from Baseball America and honorable mention notice from Collegiate Baseball at Vanderbilt.

#15, Rob Garibaldi, RF, L-L
.321, 1 HR, 9 RBI, Streak: 2 (.333, 2-6)
Started in every game this season...hit his first home run of the season on 2/22 vs. the University of San Diego, going 3-for-4 with three RBI...went 2-for-4 with two doubles on 2/11 at Texas Tech..

#26, Justin Gemoll, 3B, R-R
.360, 3 HR, 11 RBI, Streak: 2 (.286, 2-7)
Started in every game this season...third on the team in batting average...went 4-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI on 2/15 at Cal State Fullerton...had a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI on 2/6 vs. Long Beach State...has one error in 36 chances (.972) this season...has four multiple-hit games this season.

#24, Anthony Lunetta, 2B, R-R
.453, 2 HR, 13 RBI, Streak: 2 (.833, 5-6)
Started in every game this season...leads the team in batting average...hit two doubles in a 3-for-3 performance in a rain-shortened game on 3/4 vs. Mississippi State...went 3-for-5 with two RBI on 2/12 at Texas Tech...had a 3-for-5 performance with a home run and two RBI on 2/6 vs. Long Beach State...went 5-for-5 in his collegiate debut on 1/29 at Pepperdine, with a home run and two RBI...has one error in 62 chances this season (.984).

#50, Bill Peavey, 1B, L-L
.273, 2 HR, 11 RBI, Streak: 2 (.571, 4-7)
Started in 12 games this season...knocked in three runs on two doubles on 3/4 vs. Mississippi State...hit his second home run of the season in a 2-for-4 game on 3/3 vs. Georgia Tech...went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI on 1/30 vs. Pepperdine.

#22, Josh Persell, DH, S-R
.303, 1 HR, 9 RBI, Streak: 0 (.000, 0-0)
Started in 12 games this season...went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI on 3/4 vs. Georgia Tech...hit his first collegiate home run on 2/25 vs. UCLA, going 1-for-2 with four RBI...went 2-for-2 with two walks on 2/4 vs. Long Beach State.

#10, Josh Self, UT, R-R
.222, 1 HR, 3 RBI, Streak: 0 (.000, 0-0)
Started in nine games this season...hit a solo home run on 2/13 at Texas Tech...went 2-for-2 with two walks on 2/4 vs. Long Beach State.

PITCHER CAPSULES

#8, Rik Currier, RHP
4-1 record, 2.88 ERA, 34.1 IP, 25 H, 18 BB, 37 SO
Has made five starts this season...threw the sixth no-hitter in school history in five innings on 3/4 vs. Mississippi State at Kia Baseball Bash in Fullerton (5 IP, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 SO) and first no-hitter since 1986...moved into 15th place on the all-time career list with seven strikeouts on 2/26 vs. UCLA (now has 225 career strikeouts) in eight innings...pitched one and 1/3 innings on 2/15 at Cal State Fullerton in relief to pick up the win...went seven and 2/3 innings on 2/12 at Texas Tech and allowed three runs on six hits, striking out seven batters and walking two...struck out eight batters in five innings in his first start of the season to record the win on 1/30 vs. Pepperdine.

#7, Pete Montrenes, RHP
1-0 record, 4.40 ERA, 14.1 IP, 12 H, 18 BB, 11 SO
Has started in one game this season...pitched one no-hit inning on 3/3 vs. Georgia Tech...recorded two outs in the top of the ninth, with no hits, on 2/25 vs. UCLA to record his first collegiate save...pitched two and 2/3 innings and did not allow a hit on 2/4 vs. Long Beach State.

#23, Anthony Reyes, RHP
1-1 record, 3.45 ERA, 15.2 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 10 SO
Has started in two games this season as the Trojans' No. 3 starter...pitched two innings of no-hit ball on 2/22 vs. the University of San Diego...recorded his first collegiate win on 2/6 vs. Long Beach State and allowed one earned run on five hits in six innings of work...recorded his first collegiate save with four no-hit innings and four strikeouts on 1/30 vs. Pepperdine.

#37, Tim Petke, RHP
1-0 record, 6.43 ERA, 7 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 6 SO
With the go-ahead run on third in the top of the ninth, he pitched to one batter and ended the Bruins' threat on 2/26 vs. UCLA to record his first collegiate win...pitched one and 2/3 innings on 2/15 at Cal State Fullerton, allowing one hit.

#21, Mark Prior, RHP
4-1 record, 1.76 ERA, 41 IP, 26 H, 11 BB, 45 SO
Has made six starts this season...has allowed only eight earned runs this season...pitched seven innings on 3/3 vs. Georgia Tech, allowing one run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts...recorded the game-winning, pinch-hit in the bottom of the ninth with a single for the Trojans' 4-3 win on 2/26 vs. UCLA...struck out 13 batters in seven and 2/3 innings on 2/25 vs. UCLA, retired 19 straight batters and walked two...went eight and 1/3 innings on 2/11 at Texas Tech, allowing three hits and striking out seven batters...on 2/4 vs. Long Beach State, he allowed two runs on seven hits in seven and 2/3 innings of work, striking eight batters and walking one...pitched seven innings in his USC debut on 1/29 at Pepperdine, striking out five batters...named to Baseball America's 2000 preseason All-American second team...earned 1999 Freshman All-American second team honors from Baseball America while at Vanderbilt last season.

University Southern California Trojans