Feb. 23, 2003

Box Score

WACO, Texas - Chris Durbin hit two home runs as ninth-ranked Baylor completed a weekend sweep of seventh-ranked Southern California with a 3-1 win Sunday at Baylor Ballpark.

Baylor (8-3) has now won six straight from the Trojans (5-6), including a series sweep a year ago at Dodger Stadium. The Bears now lead USC 6-3 in the all-time series.

Durbin got the scoring going in the bottom of the first for the Bears with a solo shot to lead off the frame. What looked like little more than a routine fly ball to right carried over the right field fence just inside the foul poul, thanks to a stready 30-mile-per-hour breeze blowing from left to right.

With one out in the third, Durbin repeated the feat, hitting a second wind-aided shot to nearly the same spot in right as the Bears went on top 2-0. David Murphy and Josh Ford followed with singles, and after two away, Ross Bennett singled in Murphy for the Bears' third run.

Starter Trey Taylor (1-1) carried a no-hitter into the fourth and a shutout into the seventh. Centerfielder Travis McAndrews followed a two-base error by Murphy with a double to right field for USC's first and only run. Freshman Andy Pape then relieved Taylor and got out of the inning without allowing further damage.

USC loaded the bases against Pape in the eighth with two outs, prompting Baylor head coach Steve Smith to bring in junior Zane Carlson. Carlson, the Bears' career saves leader, struck out Bobby Paschal to escape the inning, then struck out a pair in the ninth for his second save in two days.

Paschal (0-2) was the hard luck loser for the Trojans, pitching the full eight innings and allowing just three runs on seven hits. Paschal struck out six and did not walk a batter.

After a full week at home, Baylor now plays the next five games on the road. The Bears head down Interstate-35 to play UT-San Antonio Tuesday at 6 p.m., then fly west for a weekend series at California-Irvine.

NOTES: Sunday's game was Durbin's third career two-homer game... Durbin had seven straight hits spanning Saturday and Sunday, one shy of the Big 12 record of eight, set by Baylor's Preston Underdown in 1997... Carlson's save was the 25th of his career.