FRESHMAN IS A BIG HIT; LUNETTA 5 FOR 5 IN TROJANS ROMP USC 7, PEPPERDINE 3.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

MALIBU - Anthony Lunetta did almost as much damage as all the veterans combined.

The USC freshman second baseman went 5 for 5 with two RBI, including a solo home run in his first at-bat. He was one of several newcomers to the Trojans baseball team who showed they shouldn't have a problem living up to the program's high standards as they led USC to a 7-3 victory against Pepperdine in Saturday's season opener at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

``It's a good start,'' said Lunetta, one of four USC starters making his USC debut. ``I think we're pretty young, but the guys that are young are pretty mature. We've all been playing for a long time and know we need to play at a high level. And the older players helped out getting us ready.''

Freshman Alberto Concepcion and sophomore transfer Rob Garibaldi each added two hits and an RBI. Sophomore starting pitcher Mark Prior, a transfer from Vanderbilt, earned the win by giving up five hits and striking out five in seven innings. With the help of double plays, the right-hander faced the minimum nine batters through the first three innings. The five batters he faced in the seventh - the inning he gave up his lone run - marked the only inning in which he pitched to more than four batters or gave up multiple hits.

``I was a little nervous, a little anxious warming up in the bullpen,'' Prior said. ``Once I got out there, after a few pitches, I was OK. I felt fine. I'm happy with how I pitched, I just ran out of gas there at the end.

``When we got those first runs - when Anthony Lunetta hit that home run- it took a big weight off my shoulders.''

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Photo: SC sophomore Mark Prior, a transfer from Vanderbilt, got the victory, giving up five hits and striking out five in seven innings.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer