April 13, 2002
Stanford, Calif. - USC (20-15, 6-2 Pac-10) held on for a wild 16-11 victory over No. 2 Stanford (24-8, 3-2 Pac-10) in a FOX Sports Net nationally televised Pac-10 game at Sunken Diamond on Saturday to even the three-game series and regain first-place in the conference standings. The Trojans jumped out to an 11-0 lead after the first inning and a half, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning and five more in the second. USC snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cardinal dating back to last season. The teams will conclude the series with Sunday's rubber game (1 pm, PT). Stanford needs a victory to extend its regular season series win streak to 12. Despite today's loss, Stanford has still won 16 of its last 20 games. USC has won eight of its last 10.
"Today was a tough game," said Stanford head coach Marquess. "Hopefully, we can rebound and play well tomorrow in the final game of the series."
David Gordon (4-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI) led a USC offense that scored the most runs against a Stanford team since the Trojans won 17-15 at Sunken Diamond on April 18, 1999. Joey Metropoulos (3-5, HR, 3 RBI) hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning to score the first three runs of the contest. Bill Peavey (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Alberto Concepcion (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Michael Morales (2-5, 3B, 2 RBI) added two hits each as the Trojans finished with 16 hits.
Jason Cooper (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) had his second two-homer game of the season as the Cardinal homered a season-high five times. Cooper's home runs were his eighth and ninth of the campaign, tying him with his total of nine all of last year. Carlos Quentin (2-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Arik VanZandt (3-4, HR, RBI) and Brian Hall (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) also went deep for Stanford. Chris O'Riordan (3-5, RBI) added three hits.
USC scored six times in the top of the first inning as eight of the first nine hitters reached safely off Stanford starter Tim Cunningham. A three-run homer by Metropoulos gave the Trojans a 3-0 advantage and a two-RBI triple by Morales made the score 5-0. USC scored its final run of the inning on an RBI single by Michael Moon.
USC added five more runs in the top of the second inning as the first three hitters reached safely and the first run scored on an RBI single by Peavey to chase Cunningham. Gordon greeted reliever Mark Jecmen with an RBI single before the Trojans scored their final three runs of the frame on a balk, passed ball on Stanford catcher Ryan Garko and a double play hit by Moon.Stanford scored three times in the bottom of the third inning on a one-out solo homer by Cooper and a two-out, two-run shot from Hall.
Stanford cut the lead to 11-7 with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth frame on an RBI single by O'Riordan and a three-run homer from Quentin.
USC answered with three runs in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Peavey and a two-RBI double from Gordon.
Stanford picked up a run in the bottom of the seventh on VanZandt's leadoff solo homer.
USC added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings on an RBI double by Gordon in the eighth and an RBI double from Concepcion in the ninth.
Stanford closed out the scoring in the bottom of the ninth when Cooper blasted a three-run homer off reliever Josh Rummonds before Cory Campos came on to retire the final two outs of the game.
USC starter Matt Chico (5-3) picked up the victory, scattering seven runs and seven hits over the first 5.0 innings. Cunningham (5-2) suffered the loss, giving up nine runs and eight hits in 1.0 plus innings.
Stanford had 12 hits in the contest, marking the 23rd time this season the Cardinal has posted double-digit hits. Stanford has also posted double-digit runs nine times.
Sunday's scheduled starters are USC's J.P. Howell (3-3, 4.70) and Stanford's John Hudgins (5-0, 4.70).