UA losing streak at six after sweep by Trojans

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore pitcher Darrell Hussman pitches to a Southern Cal batter during Friday's game. USC swept the three game series, winning yesterday 13-9.

The No. 15 Trojans (34-16, 15-12 in the Pacific 10 Conference Southern Division) used five home runs, with most of them helping the Trojans come from behind at key times in the ball game. The loss extended the Wildcats' losing streak to six games. Arizona is 29-22, 11-13 in the Six-Pac.

"It's tough," UA junior fisrt baseman Kenny Corley said. "Any kind of loss is tough. This one hurts just as bad as any of them."

Arizona started the game hot, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on five hits off of Trojan starter Steve Immel in the bottom of the first. The Wildcats had only five hits in their Saturday loss. Corley hit an RBI double off the left field wall to score junior shortstop Jake Thrower and junior center fielder Diego Rico, who had back-to-back singles.

The Trojans came back in the third when designated hitter Jason Brown hit a two-run homer.

USC added two more runs on back-to-back home runs by first baseman Greg Walbridge and Brown off of sophomore reliever Ryan Moskau, who came in for starter Rob Shabansky. Moskau had not given up a home run this season entering the game. He gave up three ye sterday.

"We didn't get ahead in the count," Arizona head coach Jerry Stitt said. "We got behind in the count and that's when the home runs came."

Arizona answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Junior catcher Tom King led off with a double and moved to third on a single by junior left fielder Jason Hendricks. A walk to senior designated hitter Tim King loaded the bases and Tom King came in to score on a walk issued to junior right fielder Colin Porter. Junior second baseman Erik Mattern hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Hendricks and a single by Thrower scored King and Porter, making the score 9-8 in favor of Arizona.

USC began to pull away when center fielder Robb Gorr hit a two-run homer in the sixth to make the score 10-9, and then added a cushion with a run in the eighth and a two-run homer by third baseman Morgan Ensberg in the top of the ninth.

Reliever Scott Henderson (6-3) picked up the win and Moskau (3-3) was credited with the loss.

The game did have its share of controversies, including questionable pitching calls by the umpires and a close play in the third inning, when UAS's Marc Mirrizzi was called safe on what looked to be a double play to end the inning. The Trojans went on to score three runs after the play.

"We had probably the most poorly officiated game I have ever witnessed in my 19 years as a Wildcat coach," Stitt said. "I am sure (USC head coach) Mike Gillespie would agree."

Saturday was all USC as the Trojans cruised to a 10-1 victory over Arizona.

The Wildcats walked 10 hitters, including seven in a five-run sixth inning for USC. The Trojans did not get a hit in that inning.

Right-hander Seth Etherton (7-2) went eight innings, allowing one unearned run while striking out 11 and walking one.

Sophomore left-hander James Johnson (4-6) took the loss. The only Arizona run of the game came in the eighth inning when catcher Jacob Mohler scored from third after a throwing error by the third baseman.

Senior left-hander Randy Flores became the winningest pitcher in USC history Friday, pitching a complete game for his 41st career win as the Trojans won, 8-6.