Image Courtesy of the Pac-12
Lots going on as we head into Memorial Day Weekend...
Sadly, the USC Ladies Golf team finished in second place, 1-stroke behind Alabama yesterday at the NCAA Women's Golf Championships.
For the second time in four years, the NCAA Women's Golf Championships came down to one stroke and for the second time in four years, USC had one too many, the No. 3 Trojans finishing in second place behind Alabama on Friday (May 25) at the 2012 NCAA Women's Golf Championships at the Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn., hosted by Vanderbilt.
The Trojans finished at 20-over 1172 (297-288-294-293), one off of Alabama's 19-over 1171 (286-285-306-294). LSU charged late to put pressure on the leaders and take third at 21-over 1173 (293-294-297-289) while Virginia claimed fourth at 23-over 1175 (288-294-301-292). It was the Cavaliers who lost five strokes in the first round after a player signed for an incorrect scorecard.
I would rather finish in second place than not be in a position to win it all...
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Marqise Lee will compete in the NCAA Track and Field Championships in June after his performance this past Thursday.
The freshman Lee had a very short first jump of 18-3.75 (5.58m) and then after fouling in his second, he enter the final round in 21st place among the final two out of four flights needing to stick a long one to advance to the final round and earn a shot at the NCAA Championships.
D.J. Morgan did not make the cut in the 110 meter hurdles.
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Steve Johnson continues to roll on...
With ITA All-American status already in the books, two Trojan tennis standouts have blasted their ways into tomorrow's NCAA Singles Quarterfinals. Defending singles champ Steve Johnson is through to the quarters in singles on his 69th straight singles win and in doubles with Roberto Quiroz on their 21st straight doubles win together as Johnson continues his pursuit of an NCAA triple crown following the Trojans' fourth straight national team championship won earlier this week. On the women's side, freshman Sabrina Santamaria pinned up her sixth consecutive win and third consecutive straight-set decision with her victory in today's NCAA Quarterfinals at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Ga.
Also of importance, USC Tennis coach Peter Smith was named ITA COY!
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Baseball continues to struggle a they fall to UCLA in the first of seasons final 3-game series.
UCLA's Beau Amaral delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the second to give the No. 9 Bruins a lead they would relinquish as the defeated the Trojans 3-1Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium before a crowd of 1,351.
UCLA improves to 40-14 (18-10 Pac-12) while USC falls to 23-30 (8-20 Pac-12) on the season.
Adam Pluto (9-3) held the Trojans to one run and four hits in six innings as he picked up his fourth consecutive win.
The Bruins capitalized on two walks in the second by starter Ben Mount that loaded the bases Amaral's timely single to take a 2-0 lead.
After a promising start to open the season USC has been just awful in Pac-12 play. Not exactly what many of us expected when Pat Haden exhausted all his options when looking for a new head baseball coach...Oh, Wait.
I am not one of those that live on past accomplishments when it comes to USC's rich tradition in baseball like some programs do in Basketball. It is what it is...in the past. But that doesn't mean that USC should continually under perform in a sport they are known for. I don't expect championships every year. Heck, I don't even expect to get to the College World Series every year but I do expect USC baseball to be competitive.
They have hardly been that.
Yes, you can lay a lot of this at Garrett's feet, but Pat Haden promised us an exhaustive search. That didn't happen, and the team continues to flounder...