University Southern California Trojans
USC
Oregon St
Four Home Runs Lift Trojans Past Oregon State 16-7
May 13, 2000 | Baseball
May 13, 2000
LOS ANGELES -- Four home runs provided the offensive spark needed Saturday as the No. 24 USC Trojans defeated the Oregon State Beavers, 16-7, at Dedeaux Field in Pac-10 Conference action. The Trojans have now outscored the Beavers, 28-8, in the first two games of the series. USC has now won six straight games and seven of its last eight.
Oregon State (27-24, 8-12) led off the first with a two-run homer by Joe Gerber. Gerber, who prior to the game was tied for first for most RBI in a season in school history, went 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI and now holds the school record with 66 RBI. USC (34-18, 12-8) answered with a run in the first and five runs in the third. Beau Craig hit a three-run homer to left while Rob Garibaldi added a two-run homer down the right field line for the Trojans in the third. Justin Gemoll hit his 18th home run of the season with a two-run shot in the sixth. Gemoll went 4-for-5 and is 7-for-10 in the series with three home runs and seven RBI. Josh Persell completed the Trojans' 16-hit barrage with a two-run home run in the eighth. Seth Davidson went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to a team-high 12 games.
Mark Prior improved to 7-6 on the season by striking out 10 batters in 5 and 2/3 innings of work. Scott Nicholson (7-7) allowed 11 runs on 11 hits in 5 and 2/3 innings for Oregon State. The series finale and the Trojans' final home game of the season will be tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Dedeaux Field.
