Munson’s Homer Key for USC

Mike Gillespie won his bet Thursday, but not without a fair amount of concern.

USC (41-15) started freshman pitcher Rik Currier, who struggled against Fordham (27-19), but the Trojans got a two-run home run from Eric Munson to break a fifth-inning tie in a 10-6 victory in the NCAA tournament’s East regional at Clemson, S.C.

“I think I underestimated the nervous factor,” said Gillespie, USC’s coach. “He was not even close to himself, but the good news is we won and he’s fresh.”

That’s because Currier, the Trojans’ No. 3 starter most of the season, pitched only 2 1/3 innings, walking four, hitting a batter, giving up four runs on four hits and leaving down, 4-0. Steve Immel came in to relieve Currier and pitched a strong 3 1/3 innings in getting the win.

No. 1 USC pitcher Seth Etherton (Dana Hills High) was ready to pitch but was held until a stronger opponent rears its head. He will be held again today, when junior Mike Penney faces Virginia Commonwealth (44-14), a 2-1 winner over South Alabama (40-17) in another Thursday game. In the regional’s other game, host Clemson (43-14) was a 12-3 winner over Citadel (36-23).

Midwest--Jeff Phelps’ grand slam highlighted a six-run seventh inning for Arizona State in an 8-4 win over Arkansas at Wichita, Kan. Also in the Midwest, Matt Smith struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings to lead Oklahoma State to a 13-4 victory over Georgia Tech. Wichita State defeated Southeast Missouri State, 7-4.

Atlantic I--Shane Wright (14-1) broke a Texas Tech record by pitching his 13th complete game of the season, beating North Carolina, 6-2, at Coral Gables, Fla. Ryan Bordenick hit two three-run homers for South Carolina in a 21-9 win over Florida International. Host Miami hit eight home runs in a 21-6 win over Bowling Green.

Atlantic II--At Tallahassee, Fla., Geoff Geary (13-1) struck out nine in eight innings as Oklahoma beat Delaware, 6-3. Rutgers was a 17-15 winner over Auburn. Florida State beat Liberty, 10-7.

South I--Jeff Kenney’s two-out, three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning finished Richmond’s rally from a 9-0 deficit and gave the Spiders a 12-10 win over Baylor at Gainesville, Fla. Freshman Carlos Brackley hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning for Wake Forest in a 14-12 victory over Illinois. Florida beat Monmouth, 12-8.

Central--Jeremy Jackson struck out 10 batters in four innings, and Mississippi State beat Washington, 7-6, at College Station, Texas. In other games, Rice was an 11-1 winner over Oral Roberts and Texas A&M; beat North Carolina Charlotte, 17-0.