Feb. 17, 2002

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - No. 25 Baylor came from behind Sunday to complete a three-game road sweep of No. 6 USC, beating the Trojans 3-1 at Dodger Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the eighth, Paul Richmond worked a walk against USC reliever Jordan Olson (0-1). Jared Clements, getting the start at third base, followed with a double to left center that moved Richmond to third. Mike Huggins followed with a single up the middle on a 2-2 count that plated both runs and put the Bears on top for the first time on the day.

The Trojans (2-4) threatened in the bottom of the eighth. First baseman Bill Peavey led off the inning against Baylor starter Justin Taylor (2-0) with a single and was pinch-run for by Mark McCauley. A pair of grounders moved McCauley to third with two away. Reliever Kyle Edens then came in to get the third out on a ground ball to second base, escaping the scoring threat.

Baylor (4-3) then added an insurance run in the ninth. Paul Witt started the frame with a single up the middle on an 0-2 count, then stole second base. Olson caught Witt breaking early off second, but his throw to the bag sailed over the USC shortstop and into centerfield, letting Witt score for the Bears' third run.

USC got on the board in the first, thanks to a pair of balks called by the third base umpire on Taylor. Centerfielder Brian Barre opened the inning with a single, moved to second on a balk, took third on a groundout, and scored on the second balk of the inning with two outs. Mike Gilmore, the third base umpire, tossed Baylor head coach Steve Smith from the game after Smith came out to argue the second call.

Taylor went 7 1/3 innings, allowing just the one run and striking out four. The senior gave up five hits and walked none.

Baylor returns to the state of Texas this weekend, playing at Houston Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then hosting Oral Roberts in a three-game set next weekend.