Prior Experience Could Help USC

OMAHA —  Mark Prior transferred from Vanderbilt to USC this season and brought with him the experience gained pitching in the Southeastern Conference.

The sophomore right-hander hopes to put that experience to use today at Rosenblatt Stadium when he faces second-ranked Louisiana State (49-17) in USC’s second game of the College World Series.

“I figured I’d run across them sometime,” Prior said. “But I never thought we’d be here this year and playing like we are.”

Fourth-ranked USC (44-18) defeated Florida State, 6-4, in its opener Saturday to extend its winning streak to 16 games.

Prior intends to build on the performance of junior right-hander Rik Currier, who pitched 7 2/3 innings for the victory.

“I think he set the trend for our pitching staff here,” said Prior, who is 10-6 with a 3.47 earned-run average.

Prior got a first-hand look at LSU last season in Vanderbilt’s 9-2 loss to the Tigers at Baton Rouge, La. He gave up six earned runs and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a sixth-inning grand slam.

“It was a relatively close game until the grand slam,” said Prior, who was 4-8 with a 4.59 ERA last season. “They were a great hitting team last year and they still are.”

LSU demonstrated its prowess Saturday in a 13-5 victory over Texas. The Tigers scored four first-inning runs against starter Beau Hale and finished with 14 hits, among them two homers and five doubles.

USC is 3-6 against LSU in postseason play.

The Trojans lost to LSU in their opening game of the 1998 World Series, then beat the two-time defending champion Tigers twice en route to the championship game against Arizona State and a 12th national title.

“After losing that first game and coming back to beat us like they did, they deserved it,” said LSU senior second baseman Blair Barbier, “but hopefully it will be different this time.”

Senior right-hander Trey Hodges (3-2, 6.02 ERA) is scheduled to start for LSU.