USC Baseball Makes 20th Trip To College World Series Thanks To 15-Game Winning Streak; Trojans Go For 13th National Championship

THE GREAT GARIBALDI -- Sophomore Rob Garibaldi from Petaluma (Casa GrandeHS/Santa Rosa College) has been steady for the Trojans in right field andhas improved at the plate. Garibaldi is fourth on the team with a .335batting average (75-for-224) and is tied for third on the team with 17doubles. He had a season-high, 10-game hitting streak snapped on June 2 at Georgia Tech.

PERSELL POST-SEASON POWER -- Junior Josh Persell (Sherman Oaks/MontclairPrep) has been a power source in the post-season for the Trojans. In fivepost-season games this season, Persell is 6-for-18 with four home runs (all solo home runs) and four RBI. He hit two solo home runs on June 2 at No. 1 Georgia Tech. He has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games. For the season, Persell is third on the team with a .343 batting average (62-for-181) with nine home runs and 40 RBI.

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM -- Designated hitter Josh Persell has been hit by a pitch 15 times this season and needs one more to tie the dubious schoolrecord, set by Brett Jenkins during the 1991 season.

THE "KIA" TO VICTORY -- In March, the Trojans played in the Kia BaseballBash in Fullerton. The first two games were played before rained washedout the remainder of the tournament. USC made up its game with Cal StateFullerton on Wednesday (May 10) and defeated the host Titans, 8-3, to record a 3-0 mark and wrap up the tournament title two months after thefirst games of the tournament. The Trojans defeated Georgia Tech, 9-2, on March 3 and Mississippi State, 7-1, on March 4. Rik Currier was named Most Outstanding Pitcher after throwing a five-inning no-hitter (see: Dr. No-No) against Mississippi State. Anthony Lunetta was named Most OutstandingPlayer after going 5-for-8 (.625) with three RBI.

AWEEK TO REMEMBER -- Mark Prior had an impact in three games during theweek of Feb. 21. On Tuesday (Feb. 22), Prior pitched two innings and recorded the win as the designated starter in USC's 7-3 win against theUniversity of San Diego. He did not allow a hit, striking out four andwalking one. On Friday (Feb. 25), he pitched seven and 2/3 innings to pick up his second straight win as the Trojans defeated the UCLA Bruins, 10-7. Prior retired 19 straight batters and, at one point, struck out five straight batters en route to a 13-strikeout performance. He scattered four hits and walked two Bruins. The following day, in a pinch-hit role, Prior singled to center and scored third baseman Justin Gemoll in the bottom of the ninth for the Trojans' 4-3 victory.

WHO'S HOT SS Seth Davidson: seven-game hitting streak, 16-for-33 (.485), one home run, three doubles, eight RBI, four stolen bases RHP Rik Currier: has won nine of last 10 starts LHP Ronald Flores: has won his last four starts, has allowed only four earned runs in last 36 1/3 innings 3B Justin Gemoll: seven-game hitting streak, 12-for-30 (.400), four doubles, nine RBI THE BEST -- The Trojans have played a competitive schedule in 2000. Nineteen of the 61 games this season have been against Top 10 teams (10-9 record) while 27 games have been against Top 25 opponents (16-11).