Pac-10 Investigates USC Baseball Fight

A fight between baseball players from Arizona State and USC in which two players were injured and Sun Devil pitching coach Bob Welch tangled with USC Coach Mike Gillespie is being investigated by the Pacific 10 Conference.

Jim Muldoon, associate commissioner of the conference, confirmed Tuesday that a probe of the Sunday incident at USC’s Dedeaux Field was ongoing.

Welch’s involvement, said Arizona State Coach Pat Murphy, came when he heard the words, “Have a drink. You’re a drunk.” Welch, who spent 18 years as a major league pitcher, 10 with the Dodgers, is a recovering alcoholic.

Gillespie said the fight started after Arizona State’s Mikel Moreno ran into catcher Jeff DePippo after the final out of USC’s 4-3 victory.

“That one thing started the fight,” Gillespie said. “Anyone that denies that is flat lying.”

USC players were already on the field to congratulate pitcher Jack Krawczyk.