2015 ncaa baseball tournament: USC Defeats UCSB

Facing elimination, USC took the field to challenge the number one seed UCSB. In the top of the third, Stubbs finally broke the stalemate with a double off the wall giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead. After trading quiet innings back and forth the Trojans tacked on another run in the top of the 5th providing the Trojans with a bit of a cushion.

The UCSB Gauchos, began to climb back into the contest loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the 5th. A pop fly for out number two was deep enough for the runner on 3rd to tag and UCSB pulled to within one but the Gauchos were unable to further capitalize.

In the top of the 7th the Trojans were able to tack on 2 more runs. With a three run lead and UCSB with only 9 outs left it began to feel like the Trojans would stay alive for another day. The Trojans tacked on more runs in the 8th to expand their lead.

The Gauchos would not go down without a fight and in the bottom of the 8th pulled to within 2 runs but the Trojans still led 5-3. The Gauchos kept the inning going through pitching changes and loaded the bases with two outs and a full count in the bottom of the 8th. One hit could easily snatch the precarious two-run lead from the Trojans. Tyler Gilbert the junior pitcher on relief picked up the crucial strikeout to get the Trojans out of the jam and the inning.

The Trojans then exploded in the 9th inning scoring 7 runs. USC scored more runs in just the ninth inning then the previous 17 innings combined. The Trojans took a 12-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth and UCSB would need a miracle to keep their season alive. A miracle that would not come. USC wins 12-3 UCSB is eliminated. The Trojans stay alive.