USC Topples Stanford Again

Senior right-hander Rik Currier pitched eight shutout innings and the eighth-ranked USC baseball team went on to defeat top-ranked Stanford, 7-0, before 1,232 on Saturday at Dedeaux Field.

It was the Trojans’ second victory against their Pacific 10 Conference rival in a three-game series that concludes today--the game starting at 1 p.m.

The victory was the 10th in 12 games for USC (29-13 overall, 10-4 in the Pac-10). It’s the first time the Cardinal (31-10, 10-4) has been shut out in 196 games.

Currier (8-1) gave up five hits, struck out five and walked four to improve to 19-2 dating to last season. In the fourth inning, he registered his 400th career strikeout by getting Jason VanMeetren swinging for the third out. Fraser Dizard picked up the save.

Jeff Bruksch (8-1), a former Trojan, gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings.