USC Beats Long Beach State in Baseball Season Opener

USC’s six-run fourth inning was the difference as the Trojans, runners up at the College World Series last year, rallied to defeat Long Beach State, 9-5, Friday night at Dedeaux Field in the 49ers’ season opener.

The Trojans, ranked No. 13 in the nation, sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth inning to rally from a 5-2 down.

Long Beach, ranked No. 15, took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Casey Snow’s two-out, two-run double. USC answered with single runs in the first and second, but Long Beach scored two in the fourth. Will Skett hit a bases-empty home run and Jason Knupfer scored from first base on an errant pick-off throw.

Long Beach starting pitcher Kyle Wilson (0-1) loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and gave up a one-run single to Wes Rachels before striking out the next two batters. But Wilson couldn’t get the third out as the Trojans (2-0) scored five more runs and knocked him out of the game.

Wilson pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up 12 hits and eight earned runs.

Snow went two for five with two runs batted in and Skett and Knupfer each scored two runs or the 49ers (0-1).

Long Beach hosts USC at 1 p.m. today at Blair Field.