Friday night’s battle between No. 1 UCLA and No. 12 USC marked the first top-25 baseball matchup between the two cross-town rivals since 2015, and it lived up to the hype. In a game that remained mostly competitive throughout, the Bruins ultimately pulled away late to take the series opener, 12-4, at Jackie Robinson Stadium, the team’s 21st consecutive win.
The Trojans were well within striking distance for the first seven innings, but a seven-run eighth inning from the Bruins turned a 5-4 deficit into a rout. Junior left-handed pitcher Sax Matson surrendered the bulk of the damage in the frame, giving up two-run singles with the bases loaded to both junior first baseman Mulivai Levu and redshirt junior right fielder Payton Brennan. Overall, he conceded four runs on four hits and failed to record an out during his time on the mound.
“He’s one of our guys,” said head coach Andy Stankiewicz when asked about Matson’s rough outing. “We’ll continue to stay with him. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to use him tomorrow and Sunday, and we’ll see how it plays out.”
Junior LHP Mason Edwards started in a highly anticipated pitching matchup against UCLA’s junior RHP Logan Reddemann. The pair each came into Friday’s battle undefeated on the year, with Edwards boasting a 5-0 start and a 0.67 ERA.
Edwards ultimately worked 4.1 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out five. The Bruin faithful in the bleachers taunted him and the rest of the Trojan pitching staff with chirps throughout the night, as the noise only grew louder with each passing inning. He struggled with control, giving up four walks and two wild pitches. The Bruins managed to get on the board in the first after Levu reached first base on a dropped third strike. Two batters later, Brennan singled him home to open the scoring.
Junior third baseman Roman Martin hit UCLA’s sole home run of the evening in the third, taking Edwards deep to left field. The shakiest inning from Edwards, however, came in the fourth as the Bruins added two more runs on an RBI double from junior left fielder Dean West and an RBI walk from Martin.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Edwards carefully worked out of further trouble and struck out Brennan looking to end his start. He exited with 95 pitches, marking his sixth consecutive start with at least 90.
“He’s [Edwards] been exceptional,” said Stankiewicz. “You’re never in a hurry to go to your bullpen when your guy has been so good for the first half of the season. It’s a long leash with him.”
On the offensive side, the Trojans struggled to string hits together consistently, holding the lead just once in the contest. After falling behind 1-0, junior outfielder Andrew Lamb’s two-run homer in the top of the second catapulted USC in front 2-1.
The Trojan lineup remained quiet until the fifth inning, when it began to chip away at a 4-2 deficit. Junior second baseman Abbrie Covarrubias narrowly beat out an inning-ending double play against Reddemann, bridging USC within one at 4-3. An inning later, sophomore catcher Augie Lopez launched a solo shot to straightaway center, knotting the game at four apiece.
Freshman RHP Gavin Lauridsen was charged with the loss for USC, giving up the go-ahead single to junior center fielder Will Gasparino in the home side of the seventh. Gasparino sent a blooper to right field that just got down under the glove of Lamb. The play was reviewed, but eventually confirmed, much to the satisfaction of the Bruin fans in attendance.
Lauridsen is now 2-1 on the season. Of the 12 earned runs he has conceded in 2026, nine have come in his last four appearances.
The Battle for L.A. will continue on Saturday afternoon, as USC looks to end UCLA’s 21-game winning streak and even the series. Stankiewicz is ready for his squad to get back out there and shake off a tough performance.
“As ugly as it was and feels at the end of the day, it’s a loss,” he said. “We just have to get back on tomorrow.”
Game two of three will feature another high-octane pitching matchup between two undefeated starters. USC RHP Grant Govel (6-0, 1.20 ERA) is set to duel UCLA LHP Michael Barnett (5-0, 2.87 ERA).
First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.