Brown’s Blast Lifts USC Past CSUN, 4-1

Were there justice in the game of baseball, it would follow that:

--The guy who produces the game-winning hit would be praised.

--The winning manager would be the guy who stays in uniform the entire game, instead of the gray-haired fellow who showers and dons a suit and tie by the ninth-inning.

Neither was the case Tuesday afternoon in USC’s 4-1 victory over Cal State Northridge at Dedeaux Stadium.

The nonconference win improved the Trojans’ record to 4-2. CSUN, which hosts United States International University today at 2:30 p.m., is 2-2.

There was no justice in this one.

The Trojans won the game on Terry Brown’s three-run home run in the fifth inning. Brown’s teammates rewarded him with a standing reception at home plate.

In the dugout, USC coaches contemplated fining their junior right fielder.

“He could get two fines,” Trojan assistant Coach Justin Dedeaux said with a laugh. “Baseball is a funny game. We win the game when our guy misses two signs.’

With the game tied 1-1, USC center fielder Kevin Janik singled to open the home half of the fifth inning. Shortstop Dan Henley followed with a potential double-play ground ball that CSUN pitcher Jeremy Hernandez threw into center field for an error.

That brought Brown to the plate in an obvious bunt situation. On his first attempt, he hit a pop up that landed foul down the first base line.

Miss No. 1

The bunt was called off on Hernandez’s next delivery, but Brown tried again with similar results--another foul ball.

Miss No. 2.

Brown found success on Hernandez’s next pitch with a 400-foot blast that caromed off a parking garage behind the right field fence.

Bingo.

“Obviously, he has outstanding major league home run power,” Justin Dedeaux said of Brown.

Northridge Coach Terry Craven agreed with that assessment, but said Brown should never have had the opportunity to put the game out of reach.

“On that series of pitches, we had a variety of defenses going,” he said. “We had a pickoff play on one pitch and a bunt defense on the other, and neither came off.

“And Jeremy extended the inning with his error. If we get the double play and he hits it out of the park, the game isn’t over.”

CSUN, which managed four hits and 12 strikeouts off three USC pitchers, never had more than one baserunner over the final four innings.

By the time it ended, USC Coach Rod Dedeaux was already attired in a gray suit and bound for a dinner sponsored by the Baseball Writers Assn. His postgame comments after career win No. 1,310 consisted of: “Hey, tiger, can you let Justin handle this one.”

Craven stuck around long enough to offer a sense of perspective following CSUN’s second straight loss.

“Every practice and game situation has been very different for us,” he said. “Today, we faced the best pitching we have seen all year--both in practice and in games--and they did it to us with a group of guys. We just didn’t get it going.”

Notes

John LaRosa, a sophomore southpaw, will be the starting pitcher today against USIU. . . . CSUN’s only run against USC came on Craig Burns’ home run in the second inning. . . . Jeremy Hernandez (1-1) worked seven innings and took the loss. . . . Brian Brooks (2-1) allowed two hits and struck out seven through five innings to earn the win. . . . Al Villasenor, USC’s junior third baseman from North Hollywood and Notre Dame High, walked and scored the Trojans’ first run in the second inning. . . . CSUN outfielder Jim Vatcher, who broke his jaw three weeks ago sliding into second base during a scrimmage, has received medical clearance to resume playing.