After a four-game series sweep against the Cal Poly Mustangs, USC baseball is now 11-0 and sits at the top of the Big Ten Conference. The Trojans are one win away from tying the program’s longest winning record, a 12-0 record set in 2015.
“To come here and win four [games] is a huge accomplishment,” head coach Andy Stankiewicz said.
The Trojans opened the series with a 4-0 shutout. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Chase Herrell gave USC five scoreless innings with five strikeouts. At the plate, junior second baseman Abbrie Covarrubias led with two hits – which included a triple – and junior center fielder Kevin Takeuchi added a triple of his own. The Trojans set the tone early, proving they were ready to dominate with both stellar pitching and explosive offense.
The Trojans came recharged and ready for game two versus the Mustangs. Though the game was not as charged as the night prior, USC persevered with a 6-0 win in 11 innings. Junior pitcher Mason Edwards threw seven hitless innings and struck out 11 batters while the bullpen carried the no-hitter deep into extra innings. Junior pitcher Sax Matson followed Edwards with three perfect innings.
Under a scorching Saturday sun, the Trojans erupted for 16 runs in a commanding 16-2 victory. The win was fueled by a relentless offense and another standout performance from the pitching staff. The Trojans scored a season-high 16 runs on 21 hits, led by sophomore third baseman Maximo Martinez, who had four hits, five RBIs and a grand slam, as well as three doubles in the game.
The Trojans finished the series strong with an 8-6 win, keeping both their offense and pitching sizzling hot throughout the game. Sophomore pitcher Andrew Johnson went 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts and four hits, continuing the success with the rest of the starting pitchers.
Heading into the bottom of the ninth with a five-run lead, the Trojans seemed in control, but the Mustangs weren’t ready to back down. They battled back with two singles, three doubles and a two-run home run, which sent the game into extra innings.
In the 11th, the Trojans were able to get two more on the board before handing the ball over to freshman pitcher Gavin Lauridsen. He gave up a one-out walk before securing the win with a double-play ball to short.
Games three and four showcased the Trojans’ offensive power and discipline to close out another series.
“We came back to the middle of the diamond. We had good at-bats; we weren’t leading the strike zone down. We were catching the ball better and taking good swings,” Stankiewicz said.
This fiery start to the Trojans’ season could be a promising sign for how they’ll perform when conference play kicks off in mid-March. Sitting at the top, with Oregon trailing by a win and a loss, may feel like a strong position, but tough competition ahead, like Illinois, could challenge their momentum and test their limits.
“Starting pitchers have been the biggest factor in our success,” Stankiewicz said. “It was nice to see the team push through and put in some good bats to get the win in the 11th inning.”
The Trojans look to get their 12th win of the season on Tuesday, March 3, against UC Irvine at 6 p.m. back at home.