Stanford Pitching Knocks USC Out

Defending national champion USC could not have asked for better performances than the ones turned in by Trojan pitchers in an NCAA super-regional series against Stanford.

Unfortunately for USC, Stanford's pitching was even better.

Maybe the best in the nation.

Stanford right-hander Justin Wayne gave up five hits, struck out 12 and walked only two in eight innings Saturday as Stanford beat USC, 5-3, at Sunken Diamond in Palo Alto to win the best-of-three series and advance to the College World Series.

Stanford (48-13), winner of championships in 1987 and '88, will be making its 11th trip to the World Series and its third in five years.

The Cardinal, seeded sixth nationally, opens play in the eight-team double-elimination tournament at Rosenblatt Stadium against the winner of the Ohio State-Cal State Fullerton super-regional.

The schedule for the World Series, which begins Friday, will be announced Monday.

"I think our pitching was just as good if not better, but they didn't give up many back-to-back base hits and pitched out of problems," USC catcher Eric Munson said. "Our bats just got cold at the wrong time."

Stanford pitching had a lot to do with that.

One day after sophomore right-hander Jason Young dealt the Trojans their first shutout of the season--spoiling a two-hitter by Trojan left-hander Barry Zito--Wayne, a sophomore, showed why the Cardinal is regarded as a legitimate threat to win this year's national title and why it will be an overwhelming favorite next year when the pitching staff is a year older.

Wayne (9-1) was not an unknown commodity to the Trojans (36-26). On Feb. 26, he struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings but got a no-decision in a 10-7 Cardinal victory. On April 17, he pitched a four-hitter and struck out 14 in a 13-2 win over USC.

On Saturday, Wayne struck out Trojan leadoff man Greg Hanoian, No. 3 hitter Jason Lane and No. 7 hitter Brad Ticehurst three times each.

In all this season, he had 35 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings against the Trojans.

"I don't think I had great stuff," said Wayne, who struck out the side in the first inning and retired the first 10 batters. "[The Trojans] are a very aggressive team. They got themselves out a little bit.

"I was not dominant or tricky. I just did what I had to do."

Trojan starter Justin Lehr (7-3), coming off a two-hit shutout against Virginia Commonwealth in regional play, gave up six hits, struck out four and walked four in six-plus innings. Steve Smyth pitched three hitless innings in relief.