Miami stays unbeaten in College World Series

Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — Charlton Jimerson hit one ball out of the park and pulled another back in to keep Miami unbeaten in the College World Series.

Jimerson led off the game with a home run for the second straight time and made a spectacular catch to rob a homer as the Hurricanes extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 4-3 victory over Southern California last night.

"I'm looking to get my team started. Whatever it turns out to be," Jimerson said. "Believe it or not I'm not trying to hit home runs."

The Hurricanes (51-12) also got a strong performance from the bullpen, which was shaky two nights before in a 21-13 win over Tennessee. In 4 2/3 innings, four Miami relievers held the Trojans to two hits and the slim lead was enough.

"The hitters carried us (Saturday) and today we just hoped to return the favor and carry them," said George Huguet, who pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his 14th save.

Greg Lovelady had a two-run double for Miami, which will play again Thursday against USC or Tennessee, which play in an elimination game tonight. Earlier yesterday, Tennessee ousted Georgia, 19-12.

Brian Walker (12-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings for the win.

USC had runners first and second with two outs in the ninth, but Huguet got Alberto Concepcion to pop out to right and end the game.

"When you're on the losing end of a game like this, it's hard to appreciate just how good of a game it was," said USC coach Mike Gillespie, whose team fell to 45-18.

Earlier in the day, Chris Burke hit a go-ahead inside-the-park home run in the eighth inning, Kris Bennett drove in a series record-tying seven runs with a series-record six hits, including a home run, and Javi Herrera homered and had four RBIs in Tennessee's 21-hit attack.