USC Hits Stride to Win Regional

Solid pitching has been the key for USC most of this season, but strong hitting lifted the Trojans to their third consecutive NCAA regional baseball championship Sunday.

The Trojans had 14 hits, including two home runs, to overwhelm Cal State Fullerton, 8-3, in front of 2,177 at the first regional tournament hosted by the Titans.

The victory extended USC’s winning streak to 13 games and sent the Trojans (41-18) into a best-of-three super-regional series against Georgia Tech (50-14). Super regional sites will be announced today, but a USC athletic department spokesman said the school did not bid to host a super regional.

The Trojan victory ended Fullerton’s bid for a second consecutive trip to the College World Series.

“USC was an awfully good offensive team in this game,” said Fullerton Coach George Horton, whose team finished 38-21.

The Trojans were exceptional on offense throughout the regional. They had 15 hits Friday in their opener against Virginia Tech and 18 Saturday against Loyola Marymount.

USC shortstop Seth Davidson, selected as the tournament’s most outstanding player, was three for four with two runs scored Sunday, and third baseman Justin Gemoll was three for four with four runs batted in. Abel Montanez and Josh Persell hit home runs.

“I’m really proud of the contribution after contribution we had down through the lineup,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “We got great contributions from our 7-8-9 spots in our lineup. Maybe they’ll hit 1-2-3 next week.”

Fullerton had 12 hits, including three each by Steve Woodward and Chris Beck, but Fullerton left 14 runners on base. USC stranded 10.

USC starter Anthony Reyes (6-6) gave up seven hits and two runs in five innings. He struck out five and walked three. Ronald Flores earned his fourth save, giving up five hits and one run in four innings.

Fullerton starter Jon Smith (9-3) gave up six runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Fullerton scored runs in the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead, but the Trojans scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings to take control.

The Titans scored in the second on Shawn Norris’ single after Matt Belfanti was hit by a pitch, stole second and reached third when catcher Beau Craig’s throw went into center field.

In the third, Woodward singled, went to third on Aaron Rifkin’s double and scored on Beck’s infield hit.

But USC, which trailed, 2-0, in all of its regional games, took the lead in the third. Montanez connected for a wind-blown homer to right, and Gemoll drove in two runs with a double into the left-field corner after hits by Brian Barre and Davidson.

Smith, who had given up only four homers in 14 starts this season, was tagged by Persell in the fourth.

Two outs later, Montanez singled and scored on Barre’s double. The Titans walked Davidson intentionally, then Smith walked Rob Garibaldi, loading the bases. Matt Sorensen replaced Smith and gave up a hit to Gemoll that scored another run.

The Trojans got another run against Sorensen in the sixth after Davidson bunted for a hit and Garibaldi and Gemoll singled. Fullerton went to closer Kirk Saarloos, who retired the next two batters to end the inning.

Fullerton reached the championship round with a 5-2 victory over Loyola Marymount late Saturday night.

Titan pitcher Ronnie Corona struck out 12 and gave up only four hits in eight innings.