USC
Stanford
USC Baseball Falls To Stanford, 4-3
March 17, 2000 | Baseball
March 17, 2000
STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford pitcher Justin Wayne struck out 11 batters in a complete-game effort Friday as the No. 2 Stanford Cardinal defeated the No. 12 USC Trojans, 4-3, in a non-conference game at Sunken Diamond. Mark Prior picked up the loss for the Trojans, despite allowing eight hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
The Cardinal (15-5) scored two runs in the fourth when shortstop Eric Bruntlett led off the inning by reaching first after being hit with a pitch. A single by center fielder Edmund Muth moved Bruntlett to third and would score later on a Prior wild pitch. An RBI single by left fielder Billy Jacobsen added another run for the Cardinal. Bruntlett's single in the fifth scored first baseman Craig Thompson for a 3-0 Stanford lead.
The Trojans (13-8) scored their first runs in the sixth inning. Seth Davidson led off with a double to right center. Second baseman Anthony Lunetta moved Davidson to third on a ground ball and designated hitter Beau Craig was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and third. Third baseman Justin Gemoll hit a sacrifice fly ball to right, scoring Davidson. A single by right fielder Rob Garibaldi moved Craig to third, but a throwing error by right fielder Joe Borchard brought Craig home.
Borchard made up for it in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out double to left center and scored on a single by catcher Damien Alvarado. In the seventh, center fielder Josh Self scored for the Trojans on a balk by Wayne, but the Stanford pitcher retired the final eight Trojans for the victory.
The Trojans have lost five of their last six games.
The series will continue tomorrow (March 18) at 1 p.m. with the series finale also at 1 p.m. on Sunday (March 19).
USC 000 002 100 -- 3-4-1 Stanford 000 211 00x -- 4-8-4WP -- Wayne (6-0) LP -- Prior (5-2) Prior and Concepcion. Wayne and Alvarado, ATT -- 1,624
