COLLEGE BASEBALL / NCAA WEST I REGIONAL : Creighton to Hawaii Play for Title; Trojans Out

Creighton University is located in Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series for the past 42 years.

As the host school for the event, the Creighton baseball program has politely welcomed and provided hospitality to teams from all over the country, then retreated into the background.

On Sunday, Creighton took a giant step toward returning home to participate in the World Series for the first time by defeating USC, 8-7, in 10 innings before a crowd of 1,935 in the NCAA West I regional at Dedeaux Field.

Later Sunday night, USC was eliminated by Hawaii, 7-3. It was the Trojans’ second loss in one day after losing only four games at home during the regular season.

USC, which was hosting a regional for the first time since 1978, finished 46-17-1.

Hawaii scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 7-0 lead into the ninth.

Then USC rallied for three runs. Mark Smith led off with a double. Brett Jenkins followed with a triple, and Mike Robertson pulled USC to within 7-3 with a home run to right field.

Casey Burrill then doubled and junior right-hander Brady Perreira was replaced by right-hander Craig Tucker, who retired the side by striking out Billy Morris, getting Dusty Raring to ground out to third and inducing Murph Proctor to fly out to left.

Perreira (7-2) got the victory, allowing seven hits and three runs in eight-plus innings. He struck out seven.

Hawaii gave him a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Trojan starter Ryan Henderson (3-1), who gave up a bases-loaded single to Tim Albert and a two-run single to John Viela. Hawaii, which earlier had a 12-9 victory over Minnesota, must beat Creighton twice today to reach Omaha. The Bluejays, in their third NCAA appearance, are unbeaten in the regional.

“I’ve had to watch every pitch (of the World Series),” said Creighton Coach Jim Hendry, who is in his seventh season with the Bluejays. “If we’re there this year, the atmosphere, attendance and local support will be something never seen there before. We’re confident. Our kids are playing tremendous ball.”

USC squandered several opportunities against the Bluejays. The Trojans managed to score just one run when they had bases-loaded situations in the second, third and eighth innings.

Smith, who had not hit into a double play all season, grounded into two against Creighton--once with the bases-loaded in the eighth and again in the 10th with the tying run on first.

After USC beat Middle Tennessee State, 7-5, in its opener Friday, USC Coach Mike Gillespie spoke of, “an impending sense of doom,” he feels when his team fails to capitalize on opportunities.

“I had the same sense as the other day,” Gillespie said. “We had all those chances . . . “