LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- "If that doesn't get you to love college baseball, I don't know what will."
Those words came from USC baseball coach Dan Hubbs after his team rallied for for an improbable 12-11 victory Sunday against San Diego State, this after being down to their final out and trailing by two runs in an NCAA Regionals elimination game.
The comeback began with David Oppenheim working a leadoff walk, followed by quick outs from AJ Ramirez and Reggie Southall. Bobby Stahel then worked a walk against first-baseman-turned-closer Steven Pallares.
With two on and two outs, senior captain Garrett Stubbs hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to one run. Then, Jeremy Martinez followed it up with an extremely clutch hit of his own, a two-run double to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead.
"It just seemed like you didn't know who was going to throw the last punch," Hubbs said. "Fortunately it was us. I just can't tell you how proud I am of this team and how hard we fight. A lot of emotion going on right now, but that was a good win."
The Trojans built a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The offense's early explosion was highlighted by home runs from Timmy Robinson and Ramirez.
San Diego State then jumped on starting pitcher Mitch Hart and the USC bullpen. The Aztecs scored five runs in the sixth and another three in the seventh to go up 11-7.
Martinez foreshadowed his later heroics by hitting a two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth to cut San Diego State's lead to 11-9. An inning later, in the game's fifth hour, he saved USC's season.
The Trojans will play Virginia at 8:30 p.m. PST tonight, with Bernardo Flores taking the mound. If USC wins, the two teams will meet again with a super regionals bid on the line. Lose, and the Trojans go home. Part of the challenge for them will be guarding against a possible letdown in the wake of an exhilarating victory.
"I guess that's a concern, but I'm not worried about these kids," Hubbs said. "They've played with emotion this entire year. I don't think we'll go down off this high. We'll try and continue the momentum that we built."
Those words came from USC baseball coach Dan Hubbs after his team rallied for for an improbable 12-11 victory Sunday against San Diego State, this after being down to their final out and trailing by two runs in an NCAA Regionals elimination game.
The comeback began with David Oppenheim working a leadoff walk, followed by quick outs from AJ Ramirez and Reggie Southall. Bobby Stahel then worked a walk against first-baseman-turned-closer Steven Pallares.
With two on and two outs, senior captain Garrett Stubbs hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to one run. Then, Jeremy Martinez followed it up with an extremely clutch hit of his own, a two-run double to give the Trojans a 12-11 lead.
"It just seemed like you didn't know who was going to throw the last punch," Hubbs said. "Fortunately it was us. I just can't tell you how proud I am of this team and how hard we fight. A lot of emotion going on right now, but that was a good win."
The Trojans built a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The offense's early explosion was highlighted by home runs from Timmy Robinson and Ramirez.
San Diego State then jumped on starting pitcher Mitch Hart and the USC bullpen. The Aztecs scored five runs in the sixth and another three in the seventh to go up 11-7.
Martinez foreshadowed his later heroics by hitting a two-out, two-run single in the top of the eighth to cut San Diego State's lead to 11-9. An inning later, in the game's fifth hour, he saved USC's season.
The Trojans will play Virginia at 8:30 p.m. PST tonight, with Bernardo Flores taking the mound. If USC wins, the two teams will meet again with a super regionals bid on the line. Lose, and the Trojans go home. Part of the challenge for them will be guarding against a possible letdown in the wake of an exhilarating victory.
"I guess that's a concern, but I'm not worried about these kids," Hubbs said. "They've played with emotion this entire year. I don't think we'll go down off this high. We'll try and continue the momentum that we built."
