USC gave fans yet another scare, pulling off a comeback for the second consecutive game.
Despite their subpar record, the San Diego State Aztecs fought valiantly against the Trojans. USC did emerge victorious in a come-from-behind effort, winning 9-6, but was forced to use seven different pitchers to pull off the win.
“I wasn’t really pleased with anything here. We didn’t play well today, but well enough to win so we’ll take it,” USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz said about Tuesday’s performance.
It was a bullpen game for the Trojans, who immediately found themselves in a jam. Freshman right-hander Tee Southisene started the game for USC — the first of seven pitchers the Trojans would send to the hill on Tuesday.
The Aztecs got four straight hits to start the night, scoring two. Southisene was able to limit the damage with an inning-ending double play.
USC responded immediately, scoring two of its own. Singles by junior infielder Ethan Hedges and redshirt junior infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek set the stage for junior outfielder Jack Basseer, who blooped a single to score one. An error on the throw allowed the second run to come home. It was the first of three hits for Basseer, who had a career day at the plate.
“[I’m] just trying to see the ball (for) a long time and make good decisions and it pays off. Don’t end up swinging at bad pitches,” Basseer said. “So it’s rewarding.”
Both teams traded blows, with another two-run inning for the Aztecs, this time off USC freshman right-hander Grant Govel. The damage came by way of two walks and two singles. Aztec graduate outfielder Jonathan Smith had the big knock, driving in two. Stankiewicz gave the ball to sophomore righty Jackson Baker, who needed to give the Trojans some length after the first two pitchers struggled.
“I felt really good, arm felt good and had the team behind me, so I was pretty confident,” Baker said.
USC managed to load the bases in back-to-back innings in the second and third but couldn’t capitalize.
Baker, just into the game, showed off some nice defense, fielding his position well. In the top of the fourth, with San Diego State holding a two-run lead and looking to extend, the Aztecs had a runner on third with two outs. Baker showed some command issues, with two wild pitches setting up a scoring opportunity for Smith, who was looking for his third hit in as many at-bats.
After falling behind the graduate, the freshman composed himself, battled back into the count and induced an inning-ending groundout.
“I saw that his first two (at-bats), he was hitting pitches up in the zone, so I just knew that I had to keep it low if I wanted to get him out, and that’s what I did,” Baker said.
It was only a matter of time before the Trojans capitalized with runners in scoring position. Basseer again salvaged the inning for USC, lining a two-out double, knotting the game at four and giving him his second and third RBI of the night.
“We got to pick the guys up when they don’t get it done, because you can’t get it done every time, so when I don’t get it done, they pick me up. So we just got to do it as a team.”
Baker passed the torch to freshman right-hander Jude Favela, who was also looking to extend for Stankiewicz. Favela found himself in trouble against the heart of the Aztec lineup, but his battery mate stepped up. Freshman backstop John Elliott helped out his pitcher by gunning down Aztec junior infielder Nevan Noonan at third after the Aztecs attempted a double steal.
USC scratched across a run in the fifth to take its first lead of the night.
After the Trojans threw 28 pitches to escape the fourth-inning scare, Stankiewicz had his hand forced and had to go to yet another reliever earlier than intended.
“You gotta give us more than one inning [if you’re Favela],” Stankiewicz said. “A good fifth inning, on a Tuesday night, when we’re strapped for some arms. One inning’s good but we needed two, and he’s got to understand that one inning’s not good enough.”
In the sixth, the Aztecs again threatened. With runners on first and second and two away, Noonan singled to sophomore infielder/outfielder Kevin Takeuchi, who threw a laser to Elliott. The catcher had to move up the line to catch the ball and reach across his body to apply the tag on what would’ve been the tying run. Initially ruled safe, the call was overturned as replay showed Elliott did tag the runner.
In the bottom of the sixth, USC broke the game open, scoring two. Basseer got the inning started with his third hit, giving him a new season high for hits in a game.
“Sometimes when you’re not playing as much, coach gives you an opportunity — it’s up to you to do something with it,” Stankiewicz said about Basseer. “He’s done a nice job putting together good at-bats. He deserves to be in the lineup, so we’ll continue to throw him out there.”
After a clean seventh, two straight singles greeted sophomore lefty Dylan Osborne in the eighth. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with less than two outs. Stankiewicz again went to the ‘pen, calling on sophomore right-hander Brodie Purcell to get his fellow reliever out of a jam. After a big strikeout, it was Noonan again who delivered for San Diego State, ripping a two-run double and bringing the Aztecs within one, making it 7–6.
USC added insurance in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two to give Purcell some breathing room.
After using seven pitchers to hold off the Aztecs, Stankiewicz acknowledged the ups and downs of his bullpen’s performance.
“Jackson [Baker] did a nice job. On a Tuesday, our relievers have to give us more than one inning — that was part of our discussion after the game,” Stankiewicz said. “If you can’t, that’s not a great spot to be in. It’s kind of a wake-up call. I liked what Dylan (Osborne) did at the end, and obviously Brodie Purcell. There were glimpses of good stuff, but it’s got to get better.”
Despite the low attendance on a chilly Tuesday night, the back-and-forth nature had the game feeling very intense, with both teams clinging to every pitch and every swing.
“It did [feel intense]. We needed to win, and we did,” Basseer said. “We got down early, but we just kept clawing back.”
The game ended 9–6 in favor of the Trojans. In a game that lasted over three and a half hours, the teams combined for 27 hits — 14 of them by USC. The Trojans left 17 men on base, while the Aztecs left 10. The two squads also combined to use 12 pitchers. USC tied its season high in walks with 11, a feat it accomplished on opening day.
Purcell earned his second save in as many games while lowering his ERA to 1.45 on the season. Basseer went 3-for-5 while also getting his season highs in RBIs and hits in a game. Sophomore outfielder Brayden Dowd also had three knocks with two RBI.