Live Thread: USC-Virginia

[TheMaxMeyer]

Good afternoon from Lake Elsinore! USC is about to play in its first postseason game since 2005, and will face Virginia in a #2 vs. #3 battle. Here is the starting lineup:

LF Bobby Stahel
C Garrett Stubbs
1B Jeremy Martinez
CF Timmy Robinson
2B Dante Flores
3B Blake Lacey
DH David Oppenheim
RF AJ Ramirez
SS Reggie Southall

SP Kyle Davis

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Bobby Stahel made a fantastic diving catch on the left field warning track to kick things off against Virginia. That play helps Kyle Davis complete a 1-2-3 first inning.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Stahel strikes out, but Stubbs laces a single to center for USC's first hit. Martinez follows that up with a single as well to put runners on first and second. Robinson grounds into an inning-ending double play though.

Tied at 0 after one.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Kenny Towns leads off the top of the second by grounding out to first. Davis then induces a grounder back to himself, but gives up a two-out walk. But Davis makes a great grab on a liner towards him to end the inning.

 

[jastrojan]

Anyone know how to purchase tickets for tomorrow's game online or can you just get them there? I called and was instructed to visit stormbaseball.com but all I can find is tickets to Storm games in early June.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Flores pops out to left. Lacey lines out to left. Oppenheim grounds out to first.

0-0 after two.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Lacey barehands a grounder to third and throws out Jack Gerstenmaier to start the inning. After a grounder to short, Davis gives up his second two-out walk of the game. But he escapes potential trouble after Southall catches a pop up to end the inning.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Ramirez grounds out to first to lead off the bottom of the third. Southall flies out to left and Stahel flies out to right.

Still scoreless after three.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Matt Thaiss grounds out to Southall, as does Kenny Towns for the second out. Stahel catches a fly ball in left for the third out.

0-0.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Stubbs strikes out for the first out in the bottom of the fourth. Martinez lines out softly to first. Robinson walks with two outs, but Flores strikes out to end the inning.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Davis gets a grounder to short to lead the fifth, and then a grounder to second. A fly out to right center ends the inning.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Lacey squibs one to third, but is thrown out for the first out. Oppenheim legs out an infield single. Ramirez lines out to second, and Oppenheim is nearly doubled off at first. Southall grounds out to short to end the inning.

0-0 after five.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Southall grabs a shallow pop fly for the first out of the sixth. After a line out, he gets a grounder to short to end the frame.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Stahel lines out to right. Stubbs lines a single to right. Martinez reaches on an error by Virginia third baseman Kenny Towns. Robinson flies one out to deep right, and the right fielder Joe McCarthy bobbles it originally, but ends up making the catch, with Stubbs advancing to third. Flores grounds back to the pitcher to end the inning.

0-0 after six.

 

[wstrojan]

defense suddenly disappeared.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Virginia leads the top of the seventh off by reaching on an error by Lacey. Then Virginia gets its first hit of the game, a single to left by Kenny Towns. A sacrifice bunt moves the runners over to second and third with one out. Virginia gets its first run on a comebacker Davis can't field clearly, but the Trojans get the out at first. A Kyle Davis wild pitch scores the second Virginia run. Two more Virginia singles cause a threat, but a grounder to short ends the inning.

2-0 Virginia, as we head to the bottom of the seventh.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Lacey squibs one to the catcher for the first out of the inning. Oppenheim grounds out to short. Ramirez also grounds out for the third out of the inning.

2-0 Virginia after seven.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Lacey squibs one to the catcher for the first out of the inning. Oppenheim grounds out to short. Ramirez also grounds out for the third out of the inning.

2-0 Virginia after seven.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Adam Haseley starts the top of the eighth off with a double. A sacrifice by Daniel Pinero moves him over to third. An error by Flores gives Virginia a third run. Kenny Towns grounds into an inning-ending double play though.

3-0 Virginia, USC has six outs left.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

Southall strikes out to start the top of the eighth. Stahel grounds out to short. Stubbs works a two-out walk and steals second. Martinez drives him in on an RBI single. Robinson strikes out to end the frame.

3-1 Virginia after eight.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

In the top of the ninth, Virginia puts the game out of reach. With Davis still on the mound, Coman reached on an infield single and McCarthy hit a double to right. After Virginia DH Jack Gerstenmaier popped out to Davis for the second out of the inning, No. 9 hitter Ernie Clement hit a bloop double down the right field line to score two more runs. The ball was just out of the reach of AJ Ramirez's glove.

Davis was relieved by Tyler Gilbert after that, and the Cavaliers tacked one more run on an RBI single by Haseley.

6-1 Virginia.

 

[TheMaxMeyer]

#USC loses 6-1 against Virginia. The Trojans will play the loser of UC Santa Barbara/San Diego State tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Lake Elsinore.

 

[beatirish]

If 11 National Chanps showed up we would have won.

I blame him.

 

[SC GARY]

If 11 National Chanps showed up we would have won.

I blame him.[/QUOT

 

[SC GARY]

A team travels 2,300 miles plays in 90 degree temps and rolls the local team. Sad commentary for SC, but kudos to VA. Tomorrow is another day. Fight On!

 

[11 National Champions]

If 11 National Chanps showed up we would have won.

I blame him.

Wish I could have been there, I blame myself too. my son had his own baseball tournament tonight, but his team did win 6-3,

 

[beatirish]

Wish I could have been there, I blame myself too. my son had his own baseball tournament tonight, but his team did win 6-3,

Well I hope you're happy. You cost us today 11. Priorities man.

 

[11 National Champions]

Well I hope you're happy. You cost us today 11. Priorities man.

Definitely not happy.

 

[beatirish]

Definitely not happy.

We live and learn. 11, I'm only riding you because I expect greatness. We expect a lot out of you and as such, we are committed to remaining in your corner. For better or worse.

Now go catch your plane.