USC baseball holds off Saint Mary's, advances to regional final
USC baseball holds off Saint Mary's, advances to regional final
On Friday, USC baseball won its first NCAA Tournament game in 10 years. On Saturday night, the Trojans followed it up with another victory, defeating Saint Mary's 6-4. The Trojans will play for a regional championship. They are one of 32 teams left standing at the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament.
USC fell behind 3-1 early in Saturday's game against Saint Mary's. However, Augie Lopez tied it up with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and Ethan Hedges hit a solo shot in the fifth to give the Trojans the lead.
USC added an insurance run in the seventh, and escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the eighth inning allowing just one run to preserve a 5-4 lead. USC added one more in the bottom of the eighth for the final margin. USC's Caden Hunter, who spent the majority of the season as a starter, came out of the bullpen to pick up a four-out save.
With the victory, USC advances to the Corvallis Regional final. Saint Mary's will face Oregon State at 3 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday. The Trojans will play the winner of that game shortly following, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
Having won both of its first two games, USC has the significant advantage of coming out of the winner's bracket. If the Trojans win Sunday night, they will advance to the NCAA Super Regional. Should they lose, they would get another crack at either the Gaels or Beavers on Monday.
USC has not been to the super regional round of the tournament since 2006. Sunday night, the Trojans will aim to end that drought.
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