Hurricanes Don’t Let Trojans Get Away

Charlton Jimerson of Miami hit a ball over the center-field fence in the first inning. He leaped and extended his arm high above the fence to prevent a game-tying home run in the fifth.

Those two plays were the difference in Miami’s 4-3 victory over USC Monday in a College World Series second-round game before 20,220 at Rosenblatt Stadium.

The victory extended Miami’s winning streak to 15 games and moved the Hurricanes (51-12) to within one win of playing for their second national title in three years.

USC (45-18) will play an elimination game today against Tennessee. The Trojans must defeat the Volunteers and then beat Miami twice to return to the final for the first time since 1998--the year the Trojans lost their series opener, then won five in a row to earn their 12th national title.

“We know we can come back because there are a few guys on our roster who were on that team and they’ve already addressed that,” USC catcher Alberto Concepcion said. “We can’t look ahead to playing Miami again. We have to get the job done first.”

Jimerson, the Hurricanes’ center fielder, did not waste time making USC sweat on a night when the temperature was 97 degrees at game time.

After Hurricane left-hander Brian Walker (12-1) pitched out of a first-inning jam by getting Bill Peavey to hit into a double play, Jimerson led off the home half of the inning by hitting a 2-and-2 breaking pitch from USC right-hander Rik Currier (12-3) off the video screen in center field.

Jimerson also homered Saturday in his first at-bat of the Hurricanes’ World Series opener against Tennessee.

With the score still 1-0 in the fifth, Brian Barre of USC hit a high fly ball to the fence about 10 feet from where Jimerson’s homer landed. Jimerson sprinted to the fence, looked up, jumped and snagged the ball as it came down on the other side for the out.

“I had been watching the previous games on TV and noticed that a lot of outfielders haven’t played the fence well,” said Jimerson, a senior from Hayward, Calif. “You have to give yourself room to go and get that ball.”

Miami scored three runs in the fifth on a two-run double by catcher Greg Lovelady and a single by shortstop Javy Rodriguez.

USC answered with three in the sixth on a home run by Concepcion--his third in two games--and a two-run homer by Josh Persell.

USC had opportunities to go ahead in the seventh and ninth innings, but could not push a run across against Miami’s bullpen.

In the seventh, Chris Sheffield walked Seth Davidson to start the inning and Barre hit a double to put runners at second and third. Luke DeBold came on for Miami and, with the infield back, Concepcion hit a ground ball to third baseman Kevin Howard. Davidson broke to the plate on contact and Howard, a former standout at Westlake High, made a strong throw to Lovelady, who tagged Davidson out.

Anthony Lunetta, who bats fourth, was the next hitter. On DeBold’s second pitch, USC tried to execute a double steal, but Lovelady threw Barre out at third. Lunetta then hit a fly ball to center field to end the inning.

“With one out, we’re going to be aggressive,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “The first pitch was a breaking ball and I’m guessing he’s going to get another one. But the pitch turned out to be a fastball that was in a good position for the catcher to make the throw.”

Davidson singled against Hurricane closer George Huguet with two out in the ninth and Barre drew a walk to give the Trojans one more chance. But Huguet earned his 14th save when Concepcion hit a fly ball to right field on a 2-and-2 pitch for the final out.