Baseball Drops Another Nailbiter to #29 USC, 4-3

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In another hotly contested game, USC shortstop Reggie Southall came up with the big hit for the second straight game, a two-run single in the fifth, as the 29^th-ranked Trojans held off another late rally by the Fordham Rams to win 4-3 at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles.
 
After going scoreless for most of the game on Friday, USC wasted little time getting on the board in the first inning on Saturday.  Bobby Stahel opened with a single up the middle, moved to third on a single by Garrett Stubbs, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Timmy Robinson.
 
The remained at 1-0 until the fifth, where the Trojans got an RBI-single by Blake Lacey and a two-run single by Reggie Southall off Fordham reliever Ben Greenberg to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
Fordham closed the gap to 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning.  Charles Galiano drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single by Ian Edmiston.  Ryan McNally then reached on an infield single to load the bases.  Joseph DeVito then plated Galiano with a fielder's choice, while Jason Lundy singled home Edmiston to cut the Trojan lead in half.
 
The Rams added another run to start the eighth inning to make it a 4-3 game.  Matthew Kozuch ripped a single up the middle to score Mark Donadio from second, after he had connected on a leadoff double.  The Rams then threatened to tie the game with runners at the corners and one out.  Edmiston tried to squeeze bunt Kozuch home, but his bunt went right to the pitcher, who flipped the ball home for the tag out.  Then, pinch-hitter Ryan Mahoney ripped a bullet to the right side but was snagged out of the air by the USC first baseman to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, Fordham would again have the tying run on base, as Joseph Runco was hit by a pitch with two out.  Donadio then hit a sharp ground ball to the right side, that the second baseman was just able to make a play on and get Donadio with the throw at the bag.
 
For Fordham, Jimmy Murphy (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits with five strikeouts.  The bullpen crew of Greenberg (1.1 IP), David Manasek (0.2 IP), and Cody Johnson (1.1 IP) closed out the contest, as they allowed three hits over the final 3.1 innings.
 
At the plate, Lundy, Edmiston and Donadio each had two hits in the game with Lundy adding an RBI.
 
The Rams and Trojans will close out their series on Sunday with a noon Pacific start.