LAKE ELSINORE – At the end of an exhausting day filled with valiant efforts and countless comebacks, USC finally ran out of steam.
As Sunday turned into Monday and May into June, the Trojans’ bats went quiet. Their pitchers struggled to throw strikes. Their fielders couldn’t make plays.
It took extra innings and almost five hours, but Virginia finally eliminated USC, 14-10, early Monday morning.
The third-seeded Cavaliers overcame a 9-5 deficit and put the second-seeded Trojans away with five runs in the top off the 11th off of Brent Wheatley.
It was the third elimination game in two days for USC, which fell into the losers’ bracket by losing to Virginia on Friday.