LOS ANGELES - The USC Trojans baseball team is on a roll, maintaining their flawless record with a thrilling 7-6 walk-off win against San Diego in extra innings at Dedeaux Field. This victory pushes the Trojans to a remarkable 17-0 this season, marking the second-longest winning streak in the program's history, just shy of the 1955 team's 19-game run. Meanwhile, San Diego drops to 7-9 after this nail-biter.
The game reached its climax when Adrian Lopez delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Logan Honma to dash home from third, sealing the win in the 10th inning. Earlier, USC held a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh, but San Diego rallied with three runs, taking a 6-5 edge. Not to be outdone, Will Stickney came off the bench and smacked a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, leveling the score for the Trojans.
The ninth inning saw USC loading the bases with no outs, yet they couldn't capitalize to end it in regulation. But the Trojans didn't let the opportunity slip away in the 10th, as Lopez's timely fly ball ensured the victory.
USC showcased depth on the mound, using eight pitchers in total. Adam Troy emerged as the hero on the mound, securing the win with a scoreless top of the 10th.
Ben Cushnie impressed in his season debut, keeping San Diego scoreless through the eighth and ninth innings. Ace Whitehead also made a notable debut, pitching two scoreless innings to start the game.
San Diego initially grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, but Andrew Lamb, continuing his hot streak, launched a three-run homer in the bottom half, his third of the season, to swing momentum back to USC. The Toreros chipped away again in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch, but Paul Grossman shut down the threat with a key flyout. Augie Lopez added to USC's tally with a crucial double in the sixth, scoring Jack Basseer, and extending the lead to 5-3.
Next up, USC hits the road to face Northwestern, with all three games available on B1G+. This team is proving to be a force, blending timely hitting with a deep pitching roster, and fans will be eager to see if they can keep this winning streak alive.