Feb. 22, 1997

Irish Run Into Thundering Trojan Bats

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Second-ranked USC pounded out 13hits, including home runs by freshman catcher Eric Munson and juniorthird baseman Morgan Ensberg, en route to a 14-4 victory over NotreDame in the Beach Baseball Classic Saturday night at Blair Field.

The Trojans, who have won seven games in a row, raise their recordto 15-3, while the Fighting Irish drop to 0-2.

Ensberg’s two-run shot in the third inning gave USC a 6-0 lead.Munson, who was taken to the hospital during yesterday’s game withMississippi after being hit in the head by a bat on a batter’sbackswing, returned today to go 3-for-5, including his two-run homerin the seventh inning.

Senior righthander Scott Henderson went six innings, allowing fourruns on five hits, striking out four in raising his record to 4-1.Senior lefthander Greg Henebry took the loss, allowing six runs in 22/3 innings.

The Beach Baseball Classic concludes tomorrow with Mississippifacing Notre Dame at noon and USC taking on Long Beach State at 4 p.m.

USC 14, Notre Dame 4USC           132 003 311 -- 14 13 1Notre Dame    000 211 000 --  4  8 4Henderson, Immel (7), Krawczyk (9) and Munson. Henebry, Balicki (3),Shilliday (5) and Wagner, Knoche. WP:  Henderson (4-1).LP: Henebry (0-1). HR: Munson (USC), Ensberg (USC),Scholl (ND).