COLLEGE BASEBALL / NCAA REGIONALS : Roberge Powers USC to Victory

J.P. Roberge is still in the midst of his USC baseball career, but his name is already etched in history at the baseball Hall of Fame.

Roberge, a junior first baseman from Arcadia, has his name inscribed on a plaque in Cooperstown, N.Y., for having won the most-valuable-player award at the 1991 Senior Babe Ruth World Series.

Roberge’s goal this season is to help the Trojans make some history of their own by landing their first College World Series berth in 16 years. He made a major contribution toward that end Thursday with five hits, including two home runs, during a 19-3 victory over North Carolina Greensboro in the first round of the NCAA South Regional at Baton Rouge, La.

Second-seeded USC, which had a season-high 20 hits, plays tonight against third-seeded Tulane, a 7-5 winner Thursday over Fresno State.

Winners of the eight, six-team double-elimination regionals advance to Omaha for the College World Series June 3-11.

“It was just one of those days when you’re in a zone,” said Roberge, who drove in six runs and scored five times. “You’re seeing the ball real well, it’s right where you expect it to be and you can hit to all fields.

USC’s offensive outburst was reminiscent of the Trojans’ visit to Baton Rouge for a regional in 1990. USC defeated Southern Mississippi, 23-5, then beat Houston, 26-11, before being eliminated with consecutive losses to Louisiana State.

“Nothing matches those first two games in 1990 in terms of production,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “But this was a pretty good way to start off.”

USC shortstop Gabe Alvarez had three hits and three runs batted in. Right fielder Jacque Jones also had three hits and drove in a run. Designated hitter Glen Carson had two RBIs.

Freshman right-hander Scott Henderson (4-1), who replaced starter Ben Tucker in the second inning, gave up one run, six hits and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings.

The Trojans scored in every inning, including six times in the eighth, and took advantage of four errors.

North Carolina Greensboro had a 2-1 lead after one inning, but saw that lead disappear when Roberge hit a two-run homer in the second. Roberge added a two-run shot during a four-run fifth inning. He also bunted for a hit and had two other singles.

Pitcher Jay Kuykendall’s errant throw to second base on a double-play ball during USC’s three-run fourth proved particularly costly to North Carolina Greensboro, which began its program in 1991 and is making its first playoff appearance.

“Our inability to execute a pretty fundamental play just opened the floodgates for them,” Spartan Coach Mike Gaski said.

Every top-seeded team that opened play Thursday won. Defending national champion LSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 10-6, in the South Regional; Ohio State beat Brigham Young, 6-1, in the Atlantic II Regional at Tallahassee, Fla., and Clemson defeated The Citadel, 5-1, in the East Regional at Clemson, S.C. The start of the Mideast Regional at Knoxville, Tenn., was postponed until today because of rain.

Long Beach State (39-17) opens play in the Midwest II Regional at Wichita, Kan. today against Washington (42-16). Cal State Fullerton (41-13) plays Northwestern State (44-13) in the Midwest I Regional at Stillwater, Okla.