Sophomore designated hitter Augie Lopez started Sunday’s game with a bang in the bottom of the first inning, launching a two-run home run 413 feet, in a 4-2 Trojan victory.
“We knew he had a good fastball and he’s gonna throw it a lot,” Lopez said. “I went up there sitting first-pitch fastball, and I got it, and hit it out.”
After a sublime start from USC’s starting pitchers this season and what seemed to be hot bats to start the day, the Trojans were in prime position for another blowout double-digit win. After a RBI single from sophomore shortstop Hiram Bocachica Jr. for Rice, the Trojans tacked on two more runs with RBI base hits in quick succession from Lopez and junior outfielder Kevin Takeuchi.
With nobody out in the third inning, five Trojans reached base successfully in five of their 12 plate appearances. From that point, they went 0-17 for the rest of the game.
“You can’t score early, and then just just shut it down,” head coach Andy Stankiewicz said. “That’s a good way to get snake bit.”
Luckily, the arms picked them up and carried them to a 4-2 win. There were two instances when it looked like Rice was going to climb their way right back into it, and the first was the most hazardous.
In the top of the fourth inning, sophomore starting pitcher Andrew Johnson found himself in deep trouble, allowing a walk and two singles to load the bases with no outs. Stankiewicz came out to the mound to chat with Johnson, and he stuck with him, a decision that showed the faith he has in his players. Johnson proceeded to punch out the next two hitters, and force a soft popup to escape a bases loaded pickle with no damage.
“In the moment when there were zero outs, and I had that situation, I tried to do my job,” Johnson said.
He finished the game with a whopping 104 pitches, the most by any Trojan pitcher this season.
“The bullpen was a little bit lighter today, and we felt like if we could get him through the fifth, we’d be in a good spot,” coach Stankiewicz said when asked about Johnson’s long leash. “With the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth right, that’s a big situation that he pitched out of. Great job by him clearing his mind and making pitches when we needed him.”
In the eighth inning, the Owls put the pressure on sophomore relief pitcher Chase Herrell, loading the bases for the second time in one game with only one out. Junior relief pitcher Sax Matson came in to try and preserve the three-run lead USC was hanging onto. He did so successfully, only allowing one to score on a sacrifice groundout. Junior closer Adam Troy got the final two outs to secure the series sweep.
It’s been eleven years since the Trojans started 7-0, and they will look to stay perfect this weekend when they hit the road for the first time this season for a four-game road series at Cal Poly.