USC Baseball takes two of three against Cal Poly

The #8 USC Trojans Baseball Team picked up their fifth straight series victory after taking two of three against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo over the weekend. The Trojans fell on Friday to the Mustangs but rebounded to win on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday: The Trojans picked up consecutive losses for the first time this season as a five-run sixth inning was enough for a Mustangs 5-4 victory. The Trojans got on the board in the top of the first as Timmy Robinson hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Bobby Stahel who led off the game with a bunt single. USC added another run in the sixth when Blake Lacey hit a double to left that scored David Oppenheim. Starting pitcher Tyler Gilbert pitched well in the first five innings but the wheels fell off in the sixth thanks in part to a crucial error by Lacey with two outs. Marc Huberman replaced Gilbert and was ineffective, allowing two singles and a walk in an inning where the Mustangs batted around. The Trojans added two in the next inning but reliever Danny Zandona shut the Trojans down in the final two innings, retiring the side in both innings.

Saturday: USC rebounded after their tough loss on Friday by eclipsing 10 runs in a single game for the seventh time this season, beating the Mustangs, 13-0. The Trojans 13 runs and 15 hits were the second most by the team this season. Oppenheim led the team with four RBIs and six Trojans had at least two hits. USC had a 2-0 lead entering the sixth but blew the game wide open with a four-run sixth and seven-run seventh inning. Kyle Twomey threw six shutout innings and picked up his fourth victory this season.

Sunday: In the rubber match of the three-game series, the Trojans offense remained hot in a 9-2 victory at Baggett Stadium. USC began the game just like they had finished Saturday's, scoring four in the first and three in the second inning to jump out to a 7-0 lead after two. The Trojans had four extra-base hits (all doubles) in the first two innings alone and the seven runs were more than enough for freshman sensation Mitch Hart ( seven innings, four hits, one run, and five strikeouts), who picked up his fifth victory this season.

Player of the Weekend: Third Baseman Blake Lacey had a fantastic weekend other than his error on Friday. Lacey went 6 for 14 on the weekend ( .428) with three doubles, four runs scored, and five RBIs.

USC returns home to face Pepperdine on Tuesday and then travel to Washington to face the Huskies in a three-game series, which begins on Friday.