USC Baseball falls in series at California

USC Baseball is struggling at the wrong time as they have now lost eight of their last 13 games after losing two of three to California in Berkeley. Here are the game recaps:

Saturday: The Trojans got off to a hot start during the series opener on Saturday Night. Jeremy Martinez and Timmy Robinson both had three RBIs and Kyle Davis followed up his complete game shutout with eight strong innings as the Trojans defeated the Bears, 11-3. The game was close after the fourth inning as the Trojans led 2-1 but USC broke the game wide open with a five-run fifth inning highlighted by a two-run home run from Robinson. The 3-4-5 hitters of Martinez, Robinson, and Flores went 6 for 12 with five runs scored and eight RBIs. How do you follow up your best pitching performance of your career? Well, you go eight innings and allow only three runs. Starting pitcher Kyle Davis's final line on the evening: eight innings, eight hits allowed, three runs, and three strikeouts.

Sunday: USC's comeback fell just short on Sunday as California won the second game of the series, 7-5. USC jumped out to a 2-0 in the top of the first as Martinez followed up his three RBI performance on Saturday with an early RBI single that scored Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist Garrett Stubbs. Martinez would later score on a Bobby Stahel sacrifice fly. Cal scored three in the bottom of the second to take the lead but the Trojans responded to tie the game at 3 after three. The Bears scored two in the fifth to take the lead but Dante Flores and Blake Lacey each had RBIs in the seventh to tie the game again. Cal scored one in the seventh and eighth and Dylan Nelson threw two shutout innings for his eighth save of the season and Cal's 32nd victory of the season.

Monday: In the rubber match of the three game series, the Trojans fell to Cal 7-2. USC scored two in the top of the first as both Martinez and Robinson continued their hot weekend by each scoring, giving the Trojans a 2-0 lead. Mitch Hart struggled in his start as he would only go three innings, allowing three hits, three runs, and five walks allowed. Chris Paul was the Player of the Game for the Bears as he went 3 for 3 with five RBIs. Cal scored seven unanswered after the Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Bears scored three in the third, two in the fifth, and two in the seventh.

USC will finish the regular season at home against Arizona State this weekend. USC has dropped to fifth in the Pac-12 Standings and will need to end the regular season strong if they want any chance of hosting an NCAA Regional.