Tuesday night games are for trying things out.
This was certainly the case when USC baseball played Hawai’i in a nonconference matchup, where there were 41 players that got on the field at Page Stadium between the two teams.
Hawai’i seemingly used its roster to try things out and look for good matchups. The Trojans, on the other hand, were doing it for a completely different reason, according to head coach Andy Stankiewicz.
“It’s Tuesday night, sometimes it’s going to be a bullpen day and you’re going to have to run some guys out there and give some opportunities,” Stankiewicz said before he got specifically into the loss. “Part of the challenge in front of us now is finding out who can be on this field and wear this uniform on an everyday basis.”
The Trojans were leading by one up until the top of the ninth inning, when sophomore left-hander Sax Matson walked out of the bullpen and onto the ant hill. Matson retired the first batter after a tough play from a defensive replacement in sophomore first baseman Dean Carpentier on an over-the-shoulder catch-up the line in shallow right field.
The following batter and nine-hole hitter, senior catcher Konnor Palmeira, reached on a throwing error from Martin-Grudzielanek, who short-hopped Carpentier at first. Matson then plunked the next batter high and inside on the tricep, meaning the go-ahead run stood on first base.
USC was able to get a flyout, marking the second out in the inning, but it was time for senior first baseman Ben Ziegler-Namoa, who already had a home run earlier in the game, to step up to the dish. On a 1-0 count, the first baseman knocked a ball into the gap in left field, clearing the bases and putting Hawai’i up 5-4.
The Rainbow Warriors would shut things down in the bottom of the ninth, only surrendering one baserunner who was never truly a threat to score despite standing on second.
Before all the pinch runners and the madness that ensued late in the game, though, it started with a game of catch between freshman starting right-handed pitcher Andrew Johnson and his sophomore catcher Andrew Lamb. Johnson looked strong through the first inning, striking out the first batter looking, then retiring the next two via a groundout and flyout.
His next inning out, though, is when disaster struck. Johnson forced a flyout on his first pitch of the second inning, making it look like he would continue his efficient outing. However, sophomore two-way Itsuki Takemoto laced a ball into center to get the Rainbow Warriors on base for the first time of the evening. Following him, senior outfielder Kamana Nahaku executed a perfect hit-and-run, slapping a ball out toward right field, where Takemoto rounded to third, making it men on first and third with only one out.
The first runs of the game came from an RBI single up the right-field line from senior shortstop Jordan Donahue, who moved Nahaku over to third. Junior third baseman Draven Nushida then laid down a safety squeeze on the first-base line, scoring Nahaku and pushing the lead up to two for Hawai’i. In the Rainbow Warriors’ next time at the plate, Zeigler-Namoa hit a solo shot to push the score to 3-0 in favor of the forest green.
Hawai’i sophomore right-handed starter Zacary Tenn pitched two straight one-two-three innings before USC found all four of its runs in the game in the bottom of the third inning. It started with seven-hole hitter and junior right fielder Jack Basseer, who worked a four-pitch walk before two straight flyouts, making it seem like Tenn could get the Rainbow Warriors out of the jam.
He then walked leadoff hitter and sophomore center fielder Brayden Dowd before drilling junior designated hitter Ethan Hedges, making it bases loaded with two outs for redshirt junior shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek. On a 1-1 count, Martin-Grudzielanek drastically changed the game with one swing when he hit a towering shot into the trees, deep past the left field wall for a grand slam, putting USC up 4-3.
But then, Ziegler-Namoa did what his team needed and got the Rainbow Warriors a win.
After a tough loss to Hawai’i, USC will have a rare Thursday-Friday-Saturday series against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Great Park in Irvine this upcoming week.