March 26, 2000
Box Score
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Sophomore catcher Beau Craig went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs to lead the 20th ranked USC Trojans to a 10-1 victory over the visiting Washington State Cougars to complete the Pac-10 sweep Sunday afternoon at Dedeaux Field on the USC campus.
The win improved USC to a perfect 3-0 in conference action and 19-9 on the year. After entering the series with a season high four-game win streak, WSU was outscored 29-14 in the series to fall to 12-16 on the year and 2-4 in Pac-10 play.
Freshman starter Anthony Reyes earned the win for USC to even his season record at 3-3. Reyes did not give up an earned run in his seven-inning outing and struck out four. Reliever Ronald Flores allowed only one hit out of the bullpen and did not give up a run in his two innings of work.
WSU starter Reggie Rivard struggled in his outing and absorbed the loss to fall to 0-3 on the year. The senior right-hander gave six hits and three runs in 3.1 innings. The Cougar bullpen, which entered the series with an impressive ERA of 3.24, combined to allow seven runs and 4.2 innings.
The Trojans jumped to an early 2-0 lead after three innings and never looked back. After extending their lead to 3-0 in the fourth, USC exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth. Craig provided a bases loaded double to plate three runs and third baseman Justin Gemoll clubbed a two-run triple.
USC tacked on another run in the seventh by way of Craig's 12th home run of the year. The sophomore backstop fell just a triple shy of the cycle and put together an amazing weekend at the plate in which he went 8-for-13 (.615) with nine RBI. Gemoll was also perfect at the plate Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two RBI.
WSU scored its only run of the afternoon in the seventh inning when right fielder Justin Williams (Spokane, Wash.) scored sophomore Bookie Gates (Seattle, Wash.) with his second hit of the day. Gates finished the game 2-for-3 and was the hottest Cougar of the weekend with a .500 (5x10) batting average against the Trojans.
The Cougars will next play a three-game series against local rival Gonzaga next weekend. Friday and Sunday's game will be played at August/ART Stadium in Spokane, while Saturday's game will be a 1 p.m. start at Bailey-Brayton Field in Pullman.
WSU 000 000 100 - 1 8 1
USC 011 160 10x - 10 14 2
Reggie Rivard, Lanakila Niles (4), Matt O'Brien (5), Nick Kenyon (8), and Zach Bode, Ryan Smith (8).
Anthony Reyes, Ronald Flores (8), and Beau Craig.
W - Reyes (3-3),L - Rivard (0-3), S - None, HR - Craig (12).
T - 2:54, A - 566.
WSU Hits - Stevenson, Hecker, Bode, Nilsen, Gates 2, Williams 2.
USC Hits - Self 2, Davidson 2, Craig 3, Garibaldi 2, Gemoll 3, Persell, Peavey.
E - Rivard (1), Lunetta, Verbryke.
2B - Nilsen (8), Self 2, Craig, Garibaldi, 3B - Davidson, Gemoll.
--www.wsucougars.com--
Copy By Jeff R. Evans
WSU Sports Information
