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UC Riverside Rallies For 10-9 Victory Against USC
Feb. 17, 2004 RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Jason Collette scored the winning run Tuesday to cap a wild four-run rally as the UC Riverside Highlanders defeated the USC Trojans, 10-9, in nonconference action at Riverside Sports Complex. Collette scored on an error by right fielder Darin Vieira, who could not handle the bases-loaded hit by Brian Steinmeyer. UC Riverside (5-7) rallied from a six-run deficit in the seventh inning despite committing seven errors on the evening. Eight of the nine USC (1-3) runs were unearned. With two outs and runners at first and second, Kyle Barratt hit an RBI infield single on a 1-2 count to make it a 9-7 USC lead against reliever Matt Cassel (0-1). Cassel walked Collette to load the bases for Steinmeyer. Steinmeyer then hit a sharp ground ball past a diving Joey Metropoulos at first with a two-run single and Vieira's misplay allowed Collette to score from first. Ironically, Steinmeyer's error in the top of the seventh led to six runs for the Trojans. Freshman Cyle Hankerd, who had gone hitless last weekend for the Trojans against Long Beach State, went 3-for-4 with two RBI. The Highlanders took a 3-1 lead after Collette's first home run of the season in the fourth off USC starter Josh Rummonds. UC Riverside wins for the third time in 16 meetings all-time between the two schools.
The Trojans return to action tomorrow with an exhibition game against Rikkyo University (Japan) at 2 p.m. at Dedeaux Field before hosting the USC/Public Storage Baseball Classic this weekend. The tournament features No. 19 Notre Dame, Louisville and San Diego State. Notre Dame and San Diego State will play on Friday (Feb. 20) at 2 p.m. with USC taking on Louisville at 6:30 p.m. This weekend's USC games will be broadcast live on usctrojans.com with Game Tracker live stats available for all six games of the tournament.
USC 100-020-600 - 9-13-1 UCR 101-100-304 - 10-14-7 # # # |
