BASEBALL

USC Morning Buzz: Here’s An Inquest On A Wild Weekend In North Carolina

The USC baseball team really captured the hearts of a lot of Trojan fans the past two weekends, which made Sunday’s loss even more heartbreaking, so close to a berth in the College World Series for the first time since 2001.

I actually went to Omaha in 2001 and it was a fantastic experience with Coach Mike Gillespie and pitching coach John Savage, and players like pitcher Mark Prior and shortstop Seth Davidson.

I wanted that experience for this team and generation of fans.

That said, a few things happened Sunday that are hard to accept given the loss:

  • Should USC have pitched to North Carolina center fielder Owen Hull in the final at-bat?

He hit .692 at the Super Regional and was 4-5 on Sunday with 4 doubles. North Carolina had a freshman on deck with 33 plate appearances this season, who didn’t even have an at-bat over the weekend.

  • USC closer Adam Troy’s final three appearances of the season: Gave up game-winning three-run homer vs. UCLA in ninth inning of the Big Ten Tournament; gave up game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning in the first game of the regionals vs. Texas State and blew the save Sunday vs. North Carolina.
  • Why was USC ace Mason Edwards unavailable Sunday? He threw 77 pitches and I get how important athlete welfare is, especially with a potential first-round draft pick. But he couldn’t face even one batter Sunday?

There were no conerns using Andrew Johnson or Grant Govel on short rest in the playoffs.

  • Where was the defense in the ninth inning? The foul ball was a tough play. But someone should have caught it. And fans seem split on whether the last hit should have been caught in the outfield.
  • A lot of people said Sunday to be positive because the future is bright, which is true. But . . . you have to take your chances when you have them. USC was thisclose to going to the College World Series. There are no guarantees you will return the following year. Just ask UCLA. A year ago, everyone thought the Bruins would breeze into the World Series this year.

17 thoughts on “USC Morning Buzz: Here’s An Inquest On A Wild Weekend In North Carolina”

  1. They didn’t get it done, period. You can write all you want about what should have or could have been done, doesn’t matter, they didn’t finish the game off.

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    1. I think NC had the stronger team. I had no confidence in our ability to keep that 9th inning lead. Our bullpen was weak all year.

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  2. DON: The last 2 plays by the SC defense might have been ‘errors’ in the Major Leagues. In the 9th inning the kid was shy about coming onto the fence but it was playable, and the centerfielder took an arclike route to the fly ball that won it

    KAM: SC’s fans had to feel like their hearts had been ripped out, but what a thrill for the North Carolina fans who were pretty muted over the course of the game until that 9th inning

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    1. Only one thing: We don’t care about the OTHER TEAM’S fans.

      #[That’sWhatIWantedToTellHeltonAfterTheHolidayBowlFiasco]

      #”IowaSureHasGreatFans!”

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  3. Scooter,

    • The loss broke my heart. I would gone with Velquez, the freshman from Northridge to shut down the ninth.

    However, SC needs two starters and three relivers for next year. If thee same players come back for next year, I believe they will get a regional and a super regional. SC has had to prove that they are for real.

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  4. DON: Those SC boys certainly put up a worthy fight

    KAM: They placed new meaning into their Alma Mater wording of “Where Western sky meets Western Sea, our college stands in majesty”

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  5. The USC starter was phenomenal but he was left in 2 batters too long … especially after throwing 11 innings in 48 hours. The decision to keep him in no doubt was due to the lack of confidence the manager had in his bullpen.

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  6. that’s a hard-hitting inquisition, wolfman! Savage gambled by holding out Reddman too long, and it bit him hard. i have to suspect he thought his team could coast thru regional without their ace. not a horrible strategy until it blows up in your face.

    i thought Staknywitz did a great job motivating his team, they played best ball at the end, which is always the goal.

    #NextSeasonShouldBeInteresting

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      2. Sometimes I think two different people ….from two separate countries…

        #IGoBack&ForthOnThisOne

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