Munson’s Homer Key for USC

Mike Gillespie won his bet Thursday, but not without a fair amount of concern.

USC (41-15) started freshman pitcher Rik Currier, who struggled against Fordham (27-19), but the Trojans got a two-run home run from Eric Munson to break a fifth-inning tie in a 10-6 victory in the NCAA tournament’s East regional at Clemson, S.C.

“I think I underestimated the nervous factor,� said Gillespie, USC’s coach. “He was not even close to himself, but the good news is we won and he’s fresh.�

That’s because Currier, the Trojans’ No. 3 starter most of the season, pitched only 2 1/3 innings, walking four, hitting a batter, giving up four runs on four hits and leaving down, 4-0. Steve Immel came in to relieve Currier and pitched a strong 3 1/3 innings in getting the win.

No. 1 USC pitcher Seth Etherton (Dana Hills High) was ready to pitch but was held until a stronger opponent rears its head. He will be held again today, when junior Mike Penney faces Virginia Commonwealth (44-14), a 2-1 winner over South Alabama (40-17) in another Thursday game. In the regional’s other game, host Clemson (43-14) was a 12-3 winner over Citadel (36-23).

Midwest--Jeff Phelps’ grand slam highlighted a six-run seventh inning for Arizona State in an 8-4 win over Arkansas at Wichita, Kan. Also in the Midwest, Matt Smith struck out 11 in 6 1/3 innings to lead Oklahoma State to a 13-4 victory over Georgia Tech. Wichita State defeated Southeast Missouri State, 7-4.

Atlantic I--Shane Wright (14-1) broke a Texas Tech record by pitching his 13th complete game of the season, beating North Carolina, 6-2, at Coral Gables, Fla. Ryan Bordenick hit two three-run homers for South Carolina in a 21-9 win over Florida International. Host Miami hit eight home runs in a 21-6 win over Bowling Green.

Atlantic II--At Tallahassee, Fla., Geoff Geary (13-1) struck out nine in eight innings as Oklahoma beat Delaware, 6-3. Rutgers was a 17-15 winner over Auburn. Florida State beat Liberty, 10-7.

South I--Jeff Kenney’s two-out, three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning finished Richmond’s rally from a 9-0 deficit and gave the Spiders a 12-10 win over Baylor at Gainesville, Fla. Freshman Carlos Brackley hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning for Wake Forest in a 14-12 victory over Illinois. Florida beat Monmouth, 12-8.

Central--Jeremy Jackson struck out 10 batters in four innings, and Mississippi State beat Washington, 7-6, at College Station, Texas. In other games, Rice was an 11-1 winner over Oral Roberts and Texas A&M; beat North Carolina Charlotte, 17-0.