University Southern California Trojans
Zito Fans 16 as Trojans Win, 5-2
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
March 12, 1999
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Junior LHP Barry Zito fanned 16 batters in seven innings as the USC baseball team opened Pacific-10 Conference play with a 5-2 victory at Oregon State on Friday afternoon.
USC improved to 9-13 overall and 1-0 in the Pac-10, while Oregon State, which was playing its first game at newly renovated Goss Stadium at Coleman Field, fell to 9-11, 0-1.
Zito (3-2) had the most strikeouts by a Trojan pitcher since at least 1987 (as far back as USC records were available). He gave up four hits, five walks and one run.
It took USC's bats a while to come around and give Zito the victory. Oregon State scored once in the bottom of the first, and it stayed 1-0 until the top of the seventh.
USC freshman 3B Beau Craig led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout by senior 2B Dominic Correa. Sophomore pinch-hitter Josh Persell executed a squeeze play perfectly, and made it to first base with a single. Sophomore SS Seth Davidson then lined a pitch over the right- field wall for his first home run of the season and a 3-1 lead.
The Trojans scored twice more in the top of the eighth, as senior DH Brad Ticehurst had an RBI single and Correa had an RBI double.
Oregon State got its second run on a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth off senior RHP Steve Immel, who relieved Zito. Senior RHP Justin Lehr got the final two outs of the ninth inning to earn his second save.
Davidson, Ticehurst and junior C Eric Munson each had two hits.
Zito, who once had 16 strikeouts as a freshman for UC Santa Barbara, struck out at least two batters in six of his seven innings, and retired the side on strikeouts four times.
The Trojans and Beavers meet again on Saturday and Sunday, both at 1 p.m.
USC 000-000-320 --- 5-10-2
OSU 100-000-010 --- 2-6-1
Zito, Immel (8), Lehr (9) and Munson.
Newell, Mitchell (8) and Ingram.
WP - Zito (3-2); LP - Newell (2-1); SV - Lehr (2).
HR - USC: Davidson (1); OSU: Ingram (1).
