USC Beats Fullerton on Infield Hit

USC pushed across a run in the top of the eighth on a two-out infield hit by Seth Davidson in a 7-6 victory over Cal State Fullerton in a matchup of two of college baseball’s top 10 teams Tuesday night at Titan Field.

Fullerton closer Kirk Saarloos had hit Aaron Fausett with a pitch and walked Brian Barre with two out after giving up a one-out single to Justin Gemoll. First baseman Aaron Rifkin knocked down Davidson’s ground ball, but had no play, and Gemoll scored.

The victory was the first for No. 9-ranked USC (6-3) over No. 5 Fullerton (2-5) in four games. Rik Currier (3-1) picked up the victory in relief, with Mark Prior getting his first save of the season.

Fullerton starter Ronnie Corona continued to struggle, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. Corona, who had given up 13 hits and 12 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts against Stanford and Baylor, gave up a homer to leadoff hitter Barre on his third pitch.

Fullerton got to USC starter Pete Montrenes for five runs in the second. Rifkin walked to open the inning and scored on Brett Kay’s triple that rolled to the wall in right center. Kay came home on Craig Patterson’s pop fly single to short right with one out. David Bacani had a run-scoring single and Shawn Norris drove in two with a two-out single.