Pepperdine, USC Match Up Again

Pepperdine Coach Steve Rodriguez got rid of his USC nightmares for at least one night.

Robert Della Grotta limited the Trojans to two runs through 5 1/3 innings, Doug Konoske and Steve Kleen provided scoreless relief and the Waves took advantage of nearly every opportunity given to them for a 9-2 NCAA regional victory Sunday in front of 2,187 at Blair Field in Long Beach.

The victory set up a rematch tonight for the right to advance to the super-regional round next weekend. It was Pepperdine’s first playoff win over USC in four meetings since the 1999 regionals, where they ultimately lost to the Trojans.

When asked if the memories are gone, Rodriguez said: “Not at all. I’ll tell you after tomorrow night.” The second-year coach was an assistant on the 2001 team considered among the best since the 1992 national championship club. In the regional at USC that season, the Waves had a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning against Mark Prior and the Trojans only to see a freshman, Michael Moon, hit a walkoff three-run home run.

Crushed by the defeat, Pepperdine lost again that night to Fresno State. But these Waves have shown an ability to come back from elimination after an opening-game loss to the Trojans.

“I wish everybody could be in our dugout because it’s pretty hilarious,” Rodriguez said. “After the loss on Friday, the guys have just come out with reckless abandon. We’re kind of the mutts of the bunch.”

Pepperdine (41-22) turned to Della Grotta, a midweek starter whose last extended outing came May 17 at UC Irvine. The sophomore gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one.

“I felt real loose,” Della Grotta said. “It was a big game. I pitched two innings last weekend, so I was well-rested.”

Konoske entered with the tying runs on base. The freshman right-hander gave up a single to Jeff Clement to load the bases and walked Billy Hart to force in a run, but then struck out Baron Frost and got Cyle Hankerd on a popup to second base.

“The game was still there to be had,” USC Coach Mike Gillespie said. “We needed a quality at-bat and we needed another quality at-bat and we didn’t get it.”

Kleen relieved Konoske in the eighth and finished up for his nation-leading 17th save. Rodriguez said the Waves’ improved depth on the mound is a big difference from last year’s regional at Fullerton, where they gave up 31 runs in two games to the Titans.

“We just have more guys,” he said. “This year, we have more pitchers that actually have a chance to help us win. Our freshmen have grown throughout the year.”

USC (39-20) failed to get the big hit and made key mistakes on the bases and in the field. Freshman first baseman Matt Cusick continued to hit well, going four for four, but his baserunning mistake in the top of the eighth cut off a potential rally, and he dropped a pop fly in the bottom half that provided fuel for a five-run inning for the Waves.

Earlier in the day, the Waves ousted host Long Beach State (37-22), 6-3, behind freshman right-hander Barry Enright (10-1), who gave up three runs and six hits through seven innings. Pepperdine beat 49er ace left-hander Cesar Ramos (10-7), who is expected to go in the first round of Tuesday’s baseball draft.