COLLEGE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: USC PITCHING UNDER CONSIDERATION.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

Lacking pitching depth, USC wants to remain in the winners' bracket as long as possible when the Trojans host an NCAA Regional at Dedeaux Field this weekend.

With a possible second-round matchup against upstart Cal State Northridge looming on Saturday, USC coach Mike Gillespie toyed with saving his ace pitcher Anthony Reyes and starting freshman Matt Chico in Friday's 3 p.m. opener against fourth-seeded Brigham Young.

The Trojans can win the regional in just three games if all are victories. But a loss on either Friday or Saturday would require three wins in less than 24 hours. USC's pitching staff has been depleted by early injuries, ineffective performances and the loss of freshman J.P. Howell, who transferred.

``It's a difficult choice because our history has been to roll the dice the first day, to have your obvious No. 1 guy ready for the second day,'' Gillespie said. ``To do the best thing you can do to get to 2-0.''

Last season, USC held back its star, Mark Prior, for a second-round game with No. 2 seed Pepperdine. Of course, the Trojans weren't exactly lacking experience when they called upon on four-year starter Rik Currier.

``Right or wrong, we felt like Brigham Young was too strong a team to be able to risk that,'' Gillespie said.

Reyes is just happy to be pitching at full strength. The preseason first-team All-American, projected as an early selection in the first round of the first-year player draft, began the season shut down with a mystery sore elbow. His first appearance wasn't until March 17 and the junior right-hander progressed cautiously.

But he was effective in eight Pacific-10 Conference starts (4-1, 2.96 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 10 walks in 48 2/3 innings) and figures to stay in the first round of Tuesday's draft despite the injury.

``There was a little pressure to get out there and show my stuff and prove that it wasn't really a serious injury,'' Reyes said. ``I was a little stressed out in the beginning, but things are working out.''

If the Trojans get past BYU, and CSUN defeats Maine in its opener, starting the left-hander Chico might be a better matchup for USC. The meat of the Matadors' lineup includes lefties Shaun Larkin (.364, 15 homers, 48 RBI), Eric Verbryke (.335, 14, 52), Tim Arroyo (.309, 10, 48) and Adam Nikolic (.310, six, 37).

Cal State Northridge won't announce a starting pitcher for its game against Maine until one hour before game time.

--Odds and ends: Larkin's streak of 17 consecutive plate appearances reaching first base safely set earlier this year was actually revealed to be 18 in a row, giving the senior transfer from Texas Tech an NCAA record. Larkin originally was credited with a share of the record. ...

An intriguing sidebar of this regional involves BYU. The Cougars, for religious reasons, won't play on Sundays. If they remain alive past the second day, the championship round will be played on Monday. That benefits Friday pitchers who would get an extra day of rest and could throw again if needed. ...

USC's decision to play the 3 p.m. game, as it did last season when it hosted and beat Oral Roberts, is determined by Saturday's schedule. Friday's losers play an 11 a.m. game, and a scheduled 7 p.m. second game on Friday night would make for a quick turnaround. ...

One of BYU's top players is Malibu High product Cameron Coughlan. The second baseman/outfielder is hitting .364 with four homers, 34 RBI and 29 stolen bases

NCAA REGIONALS

First-round games

at Dedeaux Field

USC vs. BYU, 3 p.m.

CSUN vs. Maine, 7 p.m.

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NCAA REGIONALS (see text)