March 18, 2002
San Diego - A three-run homer by USC pinch hitter Travis McAndrews in the top of the seventh broke a 4-4 tie as the Trojans went on to defeat San Diego State, 8-6, Monday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win was the fifth straight for USC and improved their record to 12-9. San Diego State lost for only the second time in 13 home outings this season as it fell to 18-9 on the year.
With the scored knotted at four apiece, McAndrews three-run blast came with two outs and two on. Anthony Lunetta and Alberto Concepcion had drawn walks off SDSU reliever Daryl Harang to open the inning. Senior Erik Fielder was then called out of the pen, and he retired the first two batters he faced. However, McAndrews then drove a 3-2 pitch high over the right field fence with what proved to be the winning runs.
Harang took the loss to even his record at 1-1. The win went to Trojan reliever Bret Butler, who came on in the sixth inning. Cory Campos picked up his first save of the year, throwing the final inning.
After USC took a 4-1 lead by the fourth inning, San Diego State worked its way back into the game with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth. The Aztecs got RBIs from Garrett Changnon, Jake McLintock and Garrett Cook in those innings.
After the McAndrews home run, SDSU fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to draw to within 7-6. One-out singles by Landon Burt and Jon Stephen were followed by a pair of wild pitches to score one run. A sacrifice fly from Anthony Gwynn drove in the second run of the inning, but it was as close as the Aztecs would come the rest of the night.
In the ninth, the Trojans added an insurance run on a solo homer by Concepcion off Aztec stopper Royce Ring. It was the first run allowed by Ring this season after 13 appearances.
Six different Aztecs had two hits each, led by Carlo Cota who added to his team doubles lead with a pair of two-baggers on the night. SDSU out-hit the Trojans 15-11, but stranded 14 base runners over the course of the game.
San Diego State returns to Mountain West Conference action later this week as it travels to Provo to face defending league champion Brigham Young in a three-game series beginning Thursday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m. (MST).
USC 8, San Diego State 6USC 011 200 301 - 8 11 0SDS 010 111 200 - 6 15 0Carque, Harang (4), Fiedler (7), Ring (9) and Manfred, Allen (7)Dizard, Olson (4), Butler (6), Rummonds (7), Campos (9) and ConcepcionW - Butler (2-1)L - Harang (1-1)Sv - Campos (1)HR - USC: McAndrews (7th-two on), Concepcion (9th-none on)Att. - 1236Time - 4:04