Jan. 31, 1997

USC Defeats Arizona State 12-3

LOS ANGELES - No. 3 USC scored seven runs in the fourth inning to break a 2-2 tie and went on to defeat No. 7 Arizona State, 12-3, in the Pac-10 Southern Division opener Friday at Dedeaux Field. USC is now 4-0 (1-0 Pac-10) while the Sun Devils drop to 2-2 (0-1)

USC has won eight straight games over the Sun Devils at Dedeaux Field.

In the fourth inning the Trojans took advantage of six hits, including a 2-run home run by freshman catcher Eric Munson (his first) and doubles by sophomore Robb Gorr and senior Greg Walbridge, and three Sun Devil errors to take a 7-2 lead.

Arizona State left fielder Mikel Moreno led off the fifth inning with a solo home run (his first) off Trojan starter Randy Flores (2-0) but three Trojan pitchers shut down the Sun Devils scoring the rest of the way.

Flores, whose Trojan career record is now 35-5, went 7 innings and scattered six hits and two walks with one strikeout (he was credited with all three runs). Mike Weibling and Brian Vieira each pitched scoreless innings to close out the game.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow (Feb. 1) at 1 p.m. The game will be televised live by Fox Sports West 2.

Arizona State      002  010  100  -  3  6 6
USC                200  702  10-  - 12 16 2
ASU: Lowery (4), Verdugo (4), Call (6), Bane (8) and Halvorson. USC:  Flores (7), 
Weibling (8), Vieira (9) and Munson. WP - Flores (2-0). LP - Lowery (0-1). 
HR - Moreno, ASU (1); Munson, USC (1). Notable: Walbridge 3-for-5, 2 RBI's.