COLLEGE BASEBALL; LONG BEACH GETS SOME RELIEF, BEATS UP USC.

Byline: Gordon Verrell

Long Beach State had only a two-run lead on USC when Jason Berni trotted in from the bullpen in the top of the sixth inning Saturday at Blair Field in Long Beach. Even worse for the 49ers, the Trojans had the bases loaded, and there were no outs.

``I just tried to keep the ball down, get ahead (in the count) and make them hit my pitch,'' Berni said later, talking about the nailbiting jam.

Berni struck out the first batter he faced, got the second on a pop-up to shallow right that second baseman A.J. LaBarbera chased down, then got another defensive gem from LaBarbera on a hard smash by Alberto Concepcion for the third out. Long Beach then blew open the tight game to thump USC 13-3 and even the season-opening series at a game apiece.

The largest opening-day crowd in Long Beach State baseball history, 2,227, was on hand to see the 49ers rip into four Trojans pitchers for 16 hits, including the first homer of the new season by shortstop Bobby Crosby.

USC starter Rik Currier, who gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings, took the loss.

The final game of the series is this afternoon at 1:05 at USC's Dedeaux Field.

- Gordon Verrell

CSUN 5, CAL STATE SACRAMENTO 3

The Matadors' Adrian Mendoza struck out three times, but his three-run home run with two men on and one out in the bottom of the ninth gave host CSUN the victory in a nonconference matchup.

Eric Horvat had two hits and two RBI for CSUN (3-3) and Tim Coltey added two hits, both doubles. Former Kenndey High of Granada Hills standout Dave Lusk drove in two runs with a bases-loaded walk and sixth-inning single that game the Hornets (1-2) a 3-1 lead.

Merrill Dunn allowed one run and four hits in five-plus innings of relief for CSUN. Andy Davidson, who pitched a third of an inning in the ninth, got his second win of the season.