Prior Keeps Things in Order as USC Advances to Omaha

Mark Prior shut down the high-powered Georgia Tech offense with eight shutout innings and USC earned its 20th trip to the College World Series, winning 6-3 on Saturday night at Atlanta to clinch the best-of-three NCAA super-regional.

Josh Persell hit a solo homer in the second--his third homer in two days--and Rob Garibaldi added a two-run shot for the Trojans’ second win in two days. Beau Craig drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and solo homer.

USC heads to Omaha with a 15-game winning streak, its longest since 1988. The Trojans defeated Georgia Tech, 7-2, on Friday night, then finished off the team that was ranked No. 1 in two of the three major polls.

The Yellow Jackets couldn’t handle USC’s pitching, which has yielded only 34 earned runs in 17 games. Tech, which was hitting .368 and averaging 10.5 runs a game at home before the super-regional, went 15 consecutive scoreless innings until putting up a three-run ninth after the Trojans botched a potential game-ending double play.

Prior (10-6) gave up only one extra-base hit, a bloop double by Mark Teixeira leading off the sixth. He moved to third on a groundout but was stranded when Jason Basil struck out swinging and Derik Goffena grounded to first.

Goffena also hit into an inning-ending double play in the fourth with runners at first and second. Wes Rynders was picked off first in third, scuttling another potential rally.

Prior was replaced after giving up his sixth hit, a single by Goffena leading off the ninth. Tech loaded the bases against Ronald Flores, who failed to preserve the shutout when second baseman Anthony Lunetta failed to cover second on a double-play grounder, then threw wildly to first. But Flores ended the game by getting Teixeira, Tech’s most dangerous hitter, on a fly to short right.

Stanford 7, Nebraska 1--Justin Wayne threw a six-hitter and Arik VanZandt and Craig Thompson homered as the Cardinal (46-15) defeated the Cornhuskers (51-16) at Stanford to even the best-of-three series.

Houston 5, San Jose State 2--An errant pickoff throw in the 14th inning set up a three-run rally as the Cougars (48-17) beat the Spartans (40-22) to even the best-of-three series at Houston.

San Jose State pitcher Jared Sandler (2-3) hit the Cougars’ leadoff hitter, Brandon Caraway. Sandler appeared to have Caraway picked off moments later, but first baseman Jon Fagan threw wildly on the throw to second and Caraway wound up on third. Jarrod Bitter’s line drive to left then scored Caraway.

Miami 7, Florida State 5--The defending national champion Hurricanes (41-18-1) capitalized on the Seminoles’ season-high six errors to tie the best-of-three series at Tallahassee, Fla.

Louisiana Lafayette 7, South Carolina 1--Freshman Andy Gros threw a four-hitter and Dan Massiatte drove in four runs at Columbia, S.C., as Louisiana Lafayette (46-18) beat the top-seeded Gamecocks (56-9) to force a deciding third game.

Clemson 9, Mississippi State 4--The Tigers (50-16) used eight walks, three Bulldog errors and strong relief pitching from Scott Reba at Clemson, S.C., to advance to the College World Series for the fourth time since 1991.

Texas 10, Penn State 0--Beau Hale struck out 12 as the Longhorns (46-19) defeated the Nittany Lions (45-19) at Austin, Texas, to earn their first trip to the College World Series since 1993.