University Southern California Trojans
USC
Long Beach St
Baseball Falls To No. 22 Long Beach State, 13-3
February 05, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 5, 2000
LONG BEACH, Calif. - A.J. LaBarbera and Chuck Lopez both had three hits to lead the #22-ranked Long Beach State (1-1) baseball team to a 13-3 triumph over #11-ranked USC (3-1) Saturday afternoon at Blair Field. Sophomore Matt Paz (1-0) earned the win with five innings of work and junior Jason Berni tossed the final four innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run, to earn his first save. The win came in front of a season-opening record crowd of 2,227.
The 49ers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first off USC starter Rik Currier (1-1). Withone out Lopez tripled to rightcenter field and then came home on a single to right by Chris Wright. USC tied the game in the top of the second on a leaoff walk to Beau Craig, a 49er error and then a run scoring single to center by Alberto Concepcion.
Long Beach chalked up three runs in the fourth off Currier, which was highlighted by run-scoring singles by Joe Graham and Robert Womack. In the sixth The Beach put the game away with five runs. Bryan Kennedy's two-out, two-run single was the big blow in the inning.
Berni kept the 49ers in the game and halted a USC rally in the top of the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one run already across the plate, cutting the 49er lead to 4-2, Berni entered the game in relief of Paz. Berni proceeded to strike out Josh Persell, get Justin Gemoll to pop out to second base and then Concepcion grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Lopez was 3-5 with three runs scored and two RBI for the 49ers, Ryan Clark ws 2-5 with three RBI and LaBarbera was 3-4 with three runs scored and three exceptional plays at second base defensively.
Seth Davidson and Anthony Lunetta were both 2-4 for the Trojans.
The same two teams will play the final game of their three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 6 at 1:00 pm at Dedeaux Field on the USC campus.
USC 010 001 100 -- 3 8 4 LBSU 100 305 31X -- 13 16 2
Currier, Clark (5), Eriksen (7), Bannister (8) and Craig, Concepcion (8).
Paz, Berni (6) and Kennedy, Grzecka (8)
2B: Craig (USC), Womack (LB), Wright (LB)
3B: Lopez (LB)
HR: Crosby (LB) (Solo homer in 8th)
WP: Matt Paz (1-0)
SAVE: Jason Berni (1)
LP: Rik Currier (1-1)
ATTN: 2,227
