May 11, 1997

USC Downs Cal State Northridge

LOS ANGELES - Junior righthander Seth Etherton went seven innings and limited a potent Matador offense to one unearned run on six hits as No. 12 USC topped Cal State Northridge, 8-2, Sunday at Dedeaux Field. It was the fourth straight win for Etherton (9-2), who walked two and struck out three.

USC concludes regular-season play with a 39-18 record while Northridge, who plays UCLA on Tuesday, drops to 41-20-1. The Trojans, who finished third in the Pac-10 Southern Division, are likely to be an at-large selection to the NCAA Regionals.

USC was led offensively by freshman catcher Eric Munson, who was 3-for-3 today and hit his 12th home run of the year.

Lefthander Nathan Rice (5-5) started for the Matadors. Rice worked 4 2/3 innings and, although he allowed just two hits, he threw five wild pitches (including two run scoring miscues).

CSUN   000 000 110  - 2  9  2
USC    110 111 03x  - 8  9  1
Rice, Cloe (5), Stephenson (6), and Sickles. Etherton, Immel (8), Henderson
(9) and DePippo. WP - Etherton (9-2). LP - Rice (5-5). HR - Munson (12)