CSUN, Ranked 23rd in Nation, to Begin 3-Game Baseball Series With No. 11 USC

Technically, the Cal State Northridge baseball team has a three-game winning streak against USC. It just so happens that those games took place over three seasons.

This week, the teams will begin a stretch in which they figure to become much better acquainted.

CSUN and USC will open a three-game series today at 2:30 p.m. at Matador Field. The other games will be played at USC’s Dedeaux Field on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

USC, ranked 11th by Collegiate Baseball, is 6-2 after its 7-4 win over Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday. Northridge, 5-2 and ranked 23rd in its first NCAA Division I season, also defeated a Big West Conference team Tuesday, outscoring UC Santa Barbara, 8-5.

CSUN’s Scott Sharts (1-0, 7.36 earned-run average) will face Jackie Nickell (1-0, 0.84) in the opener.

Northridge has a team batting average of .302, but its ERA is 4.82. USC is batting .290 with a staff ERA of 2.06.

Casey Burrill, a sophomore from Hart High, is among the Trojans’ top hitters with a .423 batting average. Corey Aurand of Simi Valley and Billy Morris of St. Francis and Pierce College have been alternating in left field.