May 22, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) - Virginia Commonwealth shortstop Brandon Inge belted a pair of two-run homers Friday and Southern Cal coach Mike Gillespie was ejected early as the Rams upset the top-seeded Trojans 14-4 in the NCAA East Regional.

Inge's first-inning homer off Mike Penney (7-4) helped the third-seeded Rams (45-14) take a 3-0 lead. They were up 13-0 in the top of the seventh inning.

Inge drove in four runs, Justin Martin added three RBIs on three hits, and Ian Caballero ripped two doubles and two singles.

Every VCU starter had at least one hit and one run scored as Southern Cal (41-16) surrendered a season-high 20 hits.

"I was probably shocked as much as anybody in the park with the way we came out and swung the bats," VCU coach Paul Keyes said. "When you can do that against USC ... You can take 10 of our media guides and it won't measure up to one of theirs."

Starter Chad Berryman (13-4) shut out the Trojans for six innings before giving up a three-run homer to Brad Ticehurst and a solo shot by Jeremy Freitas with one out in the seventh.

Home plate umpire John Magnusson tossed Gillespie out of the game in the bottom of the third inning after a called third strike against second baseman Wes Rachels.

Magnusson took off his mask and walked down the third base line as Gillespie came out of the dugout. After an extended argument, Magnusson ejected Gillespie, who left the park.

Assistant Rob Klein took over for Gillespie, who Magnusson said was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Gillespie will be back when the Trojans meet the loser of the Clemson-South Alabama game at 11 a.m. Saturday.

"We've just got to get out of this funk that we're in right now," Freitas said.

VCU will meet fifth-seeded Citadel at 3 p.m. Saturday.