USC ends the regular season with a series win over ASU

The USC Baseball team was struggling heading into their final series of the regular season against Arizona State. After losing eight of their last 13, the Trojans ended the season by winning two of three over the Sun Devils. Here are the game recaps:

Friday: The opening game of the three-game series did not go the Trojans way as the Sun Devils pounded USC's pitchers for 11 runs in ASU's 11-3 victory. After two straight strong starts, Kyle Davis struggled on Friday night as he allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings. ASU scored five in the top of the first inning as the Sun Devils batted around. Timmy Robinson got the Trojans on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as he connected on his fifth home run of the season. Dante Flores also hit a home run on the evening and went two for three. The Sun Devils were led by Colby Woodmansee and Joey Bielek, who each went three for five with multiple runs scored. Woodmansee also had four RBIs and Bielek had one.

Saturday: Dante Flores continued to stay hot, compiling at least one RBI for the seventh straight game in USC's 7-4 victory. With the game tied at 3 and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Flores ripped a ball to center that was just under the diving glove of ASU's Johnny Sewald, scoring three Trojans to break open the game. Flores would later score on a David Oppenheim RBI single to center. Timmy Robinson hit his second home run in as many days in the bottom of the sixth. Kyle Twomey struggled with his command on Saturday, walking four in five innings and was replaced by Brett Wheatley after 100 pitches. Wheatley would get the win after four innings of relief.

Sunday: Bobby Stahel had the hit of the game, a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Trojans ended the regular season with a victory, 6-3 over the Sun Devils. Mitch Hart got the start for the Trojans but was only able to get through three innings. ASU jumped out to a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth but Dante Flores got the Trojans on the scoreboard after an RBI ground out. Down 2-1 with runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth, Stahel drilled a three-run home run to left to give the Trojans a lead. After Tyler Gilbert went 2.2 innings in relief of Hart, relievers Brooks Kriske and Marc Huberman shut down the Sun Devils for the 3.1 innings.

USC's 37-19 record is the school's best record since 2001 and they are expected to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005. USC will find out where they will be playing in the NCAA Tournament at 9:00 A.M. on ESPNU today.

Player of the Weekend: Dante Flores: 4 for 11 with two runs scored and six RBIs.