The more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite the growth, development, and performance up until this point, No. 12 USC (24-2) was trounced by No. 16 Oregon State (18-5), 12-4, on Tuesday afternoon at Dedeaux Field. While revenge was fresh on their minds following a Corvallis Regional exit at the hands of the Beavers last season, the Trojans failed to deliver any sense of payback.
It was a game in which USC was forced to deploy ten of its pitchers to reach the finish line, compiling just one strikeout across their nine frames of work. Right-handed sophomore Chase Herrell, who started for the Trojans, lasted just one inning, allowing three early runs as he fell to 2-1.
Oregon State added runs in each of its first four innings at the plate, with senior infielder AJ Singer’s RBI single off of junior left-hander Sax Matson capping a 9-0 scoring run. Matson was the last of four straight Trojan relievers to allow at least a run behind Herrell. Graduate right-handed pitcher Henry Chabot, graduate left-handed pitcher Ace Whitehead and freshman right-handed pitcher Gavin Lauridsen had combined to concede four runs on four hits ahead of Matson.
“We didn’t throw strikes,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz. “You can’t do that against any ballclub, especially Oregon State. It’s a tough formula to try and get over the hump on that one.”
Sophomore third baseman Paul Vazquez and senior designated hitter Bryce Hubbard led the charge at the dish for the Beavers, blasting a home run each and combining for five RBI. Senior outfielder Easton Talt also proved effective, finishing two for three and slapping a two-run single to center field in the third.
USC had gone completely hitless through the first three frames before sophomore Designated Hitter Augie Lopez finally blooped a single into right-center field to open the home side of the fourth. The Trojans used his base knock as momentum, with junior infielder Adrian Lopez scoring him on a double to the gap in left-center field. Junior infielder Dean Carpentier came up with the biggest swing of the game for USC later in the inning, lining a three-run blast to right field, which temporarily cut the deficit to 9-4.
“Dean’s got versatility,” said Stankiewicz. “He can play different spots, and that was a big home run that at least got us kind of back in the game, but then we just went away.”
Senior Right-handed Pitcher Isaac Yeager and junior Right-handed Pitcher Wyatt Queen did a nice job weathering the storm for the Beavers, pitching a pair of shutout innings each across the final four frames. The Trojans managed just two hits during that stretch, seeing the lineup revert to the quiet form with which it opened the contest.
For a pitching staff that headed into Tuesday’s top-20 battle leading the nation in ERA, WHIP, win-loss percentage and shutouts, a 12-run Beaver barrage was certainly discouraging. Allowing eight walks and 11 hits was not in the game plan for a USC squad that lost both of its games to Oregon State in the 2025 regionals by a combined margin of 23-1.
Stankiewicz admitted that while the loss was a big deal, he wants his squad to learn from the experience.
“I just told the guys, ‘Learn from it, get better and work at your game,’” he said. “Sometimes a butt-whooping is what you need, and maybe that’s what we needed today.”
The Trojans will look to shake the rust off during a three-game set with Maryland across the country in College Park. The Terrapins have faced recent struggles, dropping eight of their last nine en route to an overall record of 11-13 (1-5 Big Ten).
Game one of the series is set for Friday afternoon, with first pitch at 3:00 p.m. PT.