Jan. 31, 2001
LOS ANGELES - Senior Josh Persell (Sherman Oaks/Montclair Prep) went 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and three RBI while sophomore Anthony Lunetta (Riverside/Arlington HS) went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBI and the No. 2 USC Trojans opened the 2001 season Wednesday with a 10-3 non-conference win against Santa Clara at Dedeaux Field.
Senior pitcher Rik Currier (Dana Point/Capistrano Valley HS) pitched two no-hit innings with three strikeouts to record the win (1-0).
"We had some very good things happen today," said USC Head Coach Mike Gillespie. "I thought Currier, Chad Clark and Mark Prior pitched well. Of course, we had a big day out of a few guys. It was a solid day and yet had some things that clearly shows that it is the first day."
"I was struggling in the fall and I just wanted to get some good pitches and try not to chase," said Lunetta. "I got some good pitches and I tried to do what I could do for the team."
Santa Clara (0-1) took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Mike Theoharis and RBI single by Pat Peavey off USC starter Anthony Reyes.
USC (1-0) came back in the first with a two-run single by Lunetta, scoring Persell and shortstop Seth Davidson (San Diego/University HS).
The game changed in the second for the Trojans. With the bases loaded and two outs, Theoharis booted a Rob Garbaldi ground ball, scoring Bill Peavey (the brother of Santa Clara's Pat Peavey) and Abel Montanez. The Trojans would add two more runs on an RBI single by Persell and RBI double by Lunetta.
Persell would add a solo home run to center in the sixth while Lunetta hit a solo shot to center in the eighth.
In the final five innings, Trojan pitchers allowed no runs and three hits.
