The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Peter Strong Reliever Mark Grbavac and the No. 8 Beavers will try to return to the win column this weekend with Southern California coming to town.

After winning 12 straight ball games, the Oregon State baseball team was knocked off three straight games by the No. 25 Arizona Wildcats. This weekend a re-focused Beaver club plays host to rivals USC.

The No. 25 Trojans (18-12 overall, 1-2 Pac-10) head to Corvallis for the first time since the 2005 Super Regional's. The Trojans have been off since March 27 where they defeated UC-Riverside, 8-3. No. 8 Oregon State (23-6, 0-3) is coming off of 10 days on the road in which they went 3-3.

"We've got more of a burning feeling to get a sweep," first baseman Jordan Lennerton said. "We have to get back up in the standings. USC is one of our rivals and it would be great to take three from them. We are pretty upset about our losses but coach Casey reminds us 'you can't win them all.'"

The Trojans were knocked off 10-0 by Arizona State in their Pac-10 opener before getting a 14-13 win in game three, finishing the weekend 1-2.

USC is known for its starting pitching, producing professional pitchers Barry Zito and Ian Kennedy, and this season is no exception. Right-handed pitchers Ryan Cook (4-1) and Brad Boxberger (2.27 ERA) lead Southern Cal's starting rotation.

"They have outstanding starting pitching," head coach Pat Casey said. "We are going to have to get on the board. The fundamentals of the game, they are either going to help you or going to hurt you."

The most dangerous aspect for the Trojan pitching staff is closer Paul Koss. He enters this weekend with 11 saves and a 1.65 ERA.

"We saw him last year, so we know he is one of the best in the country," Casey said. "Hopefully, we can get on the board early and stay out of their pen."

Offensively, USC is led by infielders Matt Cusick and Lucas Duda as well as outfielder Roberto Lopez. Cusick leads Southern Cal with a .340 average and 8 stolen bases. Duda leads the Trojans with 5 home runs while Lopez is hitting .325.

The most interesting story on the USC roster is freshman catcher Robert Stock. He is hitting .312 in his first season of college baseball, and at the age of 17. Stock was able to bypass his senior year of high school and join the Trojan roster, already becoming a top catching prospect for his draft class.

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