University Southern California Trojans
CJ Stubbs Caps Dramatic Win Over No. 16 Arkansas With Walk-Off Homer
February 23, 2019 | Baseball, Features
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In a game that saw three lead changes, the Trojans were down to their final strike in the bottom of the 10th before Jamal O'Guinn came up with a clutch RBI single to tie the game and set up Stubbs for the celebration-inducing shot to left.
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The Trojans scored in each of the first two innings and held a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh, when an RBI single by Arkansas' Christian Franklin tied the game. USC would find an answer in the bottom of the eighth when Stubbs blooped a ball into right field to score the go-ahead run.
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The lead didn't last long as the Razorbacks got a man to third with two outs and scored on a passed ball to even the game at 3-3. USC went down in order in the ninth to send it into extra innings.
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Arkansas' Dominic Fletcher came up with what looked like it might be the moment of the night in the top of the 10th when he smacked a solo-shot to right-center, giving the visitors a 4-3 advantage and their first lead of the night.
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Trevor Halsema came off the bench and led the bottom of the 10th off with a pinch-hit single before being removed for a pinch-runner. Chase Bushor would sacrifice Tyler Pritchard to second and, after a strikeout, O'Guinn came to the plate with two outs. On a 1-2 count, O'Guinn sent a ground ball back up the middle to score Pritchard from second. Stubbs followed with his heroics, sending the third pitch he saw over the left field fence and setting off a raucous celebration on the field and in the stands at Dedeaux Field.
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Chris Clarke picked up the win after 3.2 innings of relief on the heels of a solid five-inning start from John Beller and 1.1 relief innings from Carson Lambert.
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TOP PERFORMERS
- CJ Stubbs went 2-for-3 with three RBI on a double and a homer.
- Jamal O'Guinn led the Trojans with three hits, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
- Chase Bushor was 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored.
- John Beller struck out six and walked just one in 5.0 innings of work, scattering five hits and allowing one earned run.
- Chris Clarke gave up five hits and one earned run in 3.2 innings on the mound, striking out six and walking just one.
- This is the second walk-off win of the season for USC. The Trojans beat Omaha on opening day thanks to a ninth-inning RBI-single from Brandon Perez.
- Stubbs has had a hit in every game this season and has an extra-base hit in all but one.
- The Trojan pitching staff matched its season low with two walks (one intentional)Â for the second time this season.
ÂHear from the man of the hour, @cj_stubbs1, after his #walkoff shot against No. 16 Arkansas!#FightOn pic.twitter.com/Psj2mHuIYz
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) February 24, 2019
COMING UP
USC welcomes UC Santa Barbara for a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday and then Grand Canyon comes to town for a three-game series next weekend.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Escarrega, Saul (2-0)
L: Marshall Denton (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Casey Martin 1 ; Casey Opitz 1 ; Christian Franklin 1
HR: Dominic Fletcher 1
RBI: Dominic Fletcher 1 ; Christian Franklin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominic Fletcher 1 ; Casey Opitz 2 ; Jacob Nesbit 1
SB: Casey Martin 1 ; Jack Kenley 1 ; Casey Opitz 1

Batting:
2B: O'Guinn, Jamal 1
HR: Wanger, Ben 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1
RBI: Wanger, Ben 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 3 ; Thomas, John 1
SH: Wanger, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pritchard, Tyler 1 ; Wanger, Ben 2 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; Shockey, Brady 1
SB: Shockey, Brady 1
























