Southern Cal
Team Capsule
Posted: Thursday May 28, 1998 06:39 PM
Coach: Mike Gillespie (12th year)
Nickname: Trojans
Record and conference finish: 44-16, Pac-10 South -- 2nd
NCAA Tournament Region and Seed: East, 1st
Total NCAA appearances: 31
NCAA Tournament Record: 181-64
College World Series Appearances: 19th
CWS Record: 67-21
Last CWS Appearance: 1995, loss to Miami, Fla., 15-10; beat Oklahoma, 9-4
beat Florida State, 16-11; beat Miami, Fla., 7-5; beat Miami, Fla., 7-3; lost to Cal State Fullerton, 11-5
Top Finish: 1st (1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972,
1973, 1974, 1978)
Probable Starting Lineup
------------------------
C -- Eric Munson (.380, 14 HR, 51 RBI)
1B -- Robb Gorr (.351, 13, 66)
2B -- Wes Rachels (.323, 2, 27)
3B -- Morgan Ensberg (.356, 19, 66)
SS -- Seth Davidson (.333, 5, 29)
LF -- Jeremy Freitas (.326, 13, 53)
CF -- Greg Hanoian (.350, 2, 16)
RF -- Brad Ticehurst (.297, 14, 45)
DH -- Jason Lane (.305, 10, 41)
SP -- Seth Etherton (12-3, 2.86 ERA)
SP -- Rik Currier (5-1, 5.23)
SP -- Mike Penney (7-4, 5.30)
RP -- Jack Krawczyk (21 saves, 1.71)
Outlook: USC has won a record 11 titles, more than twice as many
as any other school, including five straight from 1970-74. In
their first game on Saturday, the Trojans will play LSU,
which is trying to become only the second team to win three
straight championships. USC features two of the best pitchers in
college baseball, RH Seth Etherton, a first-team All-America, and
righty closer Jack Krawczyk. Etherton went 12-3 this year with
a 2.86 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings. Krawcyzk
compiled 21 saves, just one shy of the national single-season
record, to go along with a 1.71 ERA. The Trojans have been helped
by the recent return of C/DH Eric Munson, a pre-season All-American
who missed 16 straight games with a stress fracture in his right
foot. Since returning, he is batting .520 (13-for-25) and was
the MVP of the East Regional. Munson is hitting .380 with 14
homers and 51 RBI for the season. Junior CF Greg Hanoian has
also been on fire, hitting .435 in seven games since
returning from a hamstring injury. USC is hitting .322 as a
team and is averaging eight runs per game. They have scored a
season-high 17 runs three times. USC had five All Pac-10 first
teamers, more than any other school: Etherton, Krawcyzk, 3B
Morgan Ensberg, 1B Robb Gorr and freshman SS Seth Davidson. The
1998 season marks the 50th anniversary of USC's first-ever title.
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