COLLEGE WORLD SERIES : USC Steps Lively Behind Jenkins’ Homer

With survival in the College World Series on the line, USC’s Geoff Jenkins thought it was time to make a powerful statement.

Words would not suffice. They never have with Jenkins, who possesses what is perhaps the biggest swing in college baseball--and is not shy about unleashing it.

Jenkins made his point in the second inning against Oklahoma when he blasted a pitch from Ryan Minor over the 30-foot-high hitters’ backdrop 408 feet away in center field. The home run was one of three in a seven-run rally that started the Trojans on their way to a 9-4 victory before 19,120 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Ernie Diaz and Wes Rachels also homered in the inning to give sophomore left-hander Randy Flores more than enough to work with against the defending national champion.

“It helps if the big guys step up so other guys can key off your performance,” said Jenkins, a first-round draft choice of the Milwaukee Brewers who has 20 homers. “That home run told our team, ‘We can hit this guy. Let’s go.’ ”

Sixth-seeded USC (46-20), making its first World Series appearance since 1978, will play an elimination game Tuesday against second-seeded Florida State, which lost to Miami, 4-2, on Sunday. The Trojans are trying to become the first team since Arizona in 1980 to win the national title after losing its first game of the series.

Oklahoma (42-16), which lost its opener against Florida State, is the third defending champion in the 49-year history of the series to be eliminated in two games. Louisiana State did it in 1994 and Ohio State in 1967.

“We have stayed away from [being hurt by] the big inning most of the year,” Oklahoma Coach Larry Cochell said. “But they really put a charge in the ball.”

USC chased Minor (1-1) and had seven of its 12 hits during the second inning, including three consecutive run-scoring doubles by Paul Cruz, Gabe Alvarez and Jenkins.

“When you can’t get your breaking ball over, you start throwing fastballs,” said Minor, one of six Sooner pitchers used. “I was grooving it and they just sat on it.”

Greg Walbridge gave USC a 9-4 lead with a home run in the seventh.

Meanwhile, Flores (12-3) was his usual unspectacular-but-effective self. He gave up 11 hits--all singles--struck out four and walked three. Flores walked in a run with two out and the bases loaded in the sixth, then retired the last 10 batters in a row.

“After you get out of a make-or-break inning with relatively little damage, you get some confidence,” said Flores, who pitched his seventh complete game. “You get on a little bit of a roll.”

USC will try to keep its momentum on Tuesday when the Trojans face Florida State pitcher Jonathan Johnson, a first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers who beat Oklahoma with a complete-game performance on Friday.

“Jonathan is not a guy who gives up a lot of big hits,” said Jenkins, who played with Johnson on Team USA last summer. “We’re going to have to chip away and take advantage of what he gives us.

“I think we’ll swing the bat well. Based on tonight, we’re not getting cheated at the plate.”

Miami 4, Florida State 2--Florida State left-hander David Yocum (12-3), the Dodgers’ first pick in the draft, did not last an inning against Miami (48-15), which stayed unbeaten in the series.

The Hurricanes scored four runs in the first inning, three on Danny Buxbaum’s 14th homer, before a 90-minute rain delay.

J.D. Arteaga (11-2) gave up seven hits and struck out three for Miami.

Florida State is 53-15.

World Series Notes

Junior right-hander Jon Ward (9-3) will start today for top-seeded Cal State Fullerton (54-9) in a winner’s bracket game against fifth-seeded Tennessee (53-14). Sophomore right-hander R.A. Dickey (14-3) will start for the Volunteers. . . . Stanford (39-24) plays Clemson (54-13) in an elimination game. . . . Wes Rachels’ home run was the first in the sophomore’s college career. . . . USC shortstop Gabe Alvarez’s double in the second inning was the 57th of his career, moving him into a tie for first place on the Trojans’ all-time list with Brett Jenkins (1989-91), the older brother of current Trojan Geoff Jenkins.

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Today’s Games

* CS Fullerton (54-9) vs. Tennessee (53-14), 12:36 p.m. PDT

* Stanford (39-24) vs. Clemson (54-13), 4:36 p.m. PDT

* TV: ESPN.