University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
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USC
Trojans Outlast UCLA Baseball 4-3
February 26, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Pinch-hitter Mike Prior, last night's winning pitcher for the Trojans, smacked a base hit up the middle to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as No. 9 USC squeezed past the No. 8 UCLA baseball team 4-3 Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Dedeaux Field.
The Bruins fall to the .500 mark on the season, at 7-7, while USC improves its overall record to 9-3.
With the score knotted at three since the second inning, Bruin reliever Bobby Roe walked USC third baseman Justin Gemoll to lead off the bottom of the ninth. A perfectly laid sacrifice bunt by USC designated hitter Josh Persell moved the winning run to second. Roe then intentionally walked first baseman Alberto Concepcion, setting the stage for Prior who pinch-hit for left fielder Abel Montanez.
Roe (1-1) suffered the loss for the Bruins, while Trojan reliever Tim Petke (1-0) picked his first collegiate victory.
The Bruins had a chance to take the lead, when in the top of the ninth, UCLA right fielder Nick Lyon led off the inning with a double off Trojan reliever Pete Montrenes. Lyon advanced to third on a fly out to right by freshman shortstop Warren Trott. UCLA center fielder Charles Merricks walked to put runners at the corners causing the Trojans to go to the bullpen.
Reliever Ronald Flores got Bruin second baseman Chase Utley to fly to right for the second out the inning, before Petke was brought in to face third baseman Garrett Atkins. Atkins grounded into a fielder's choice at second, stranding the go-ahead run at third.
Junior left-hander Rob Henkel made the start for the Bruins and scattered six hits through seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out eight. USC right-hander Rik Currier started for USC, allowing six hits, three runs, five walks and striking out seven through eight innings.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning and one run in the second. Junior left-fielder Bill Scott slugged a two-run homer in the first inning and Lyon hit a solo shot to right field to account for the three Bruin runs. Trojan catcher Beau Craig hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to even the score 2-2.
The three-game non-conference series concludes tomorrow with a 1 p.m. start at Dedeaux Field.
