USC Comes Back for 11-5 Win Over San Diego State

Sunday, February 23

San Diego, Calif.

2:00 PM

USC

4-2

San Diego State

5-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
USC	0	0	0	0	5	0	2	0	4	11	8	1
San Diego State	1	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	13	4

Highlights

Photo by: David Cohen

USC Comes Back for 11-5 Win Over San Diego State

February 23, 2020 | Baseball, Features

Box Score Highlights Final Stats Box Score (PDF)

SAN DIEGO – The USC baseball team fell behind 5-0 midway through the game against San Diego State, but rallied for 11 unanswered runs to beat the Aztecs 11-5 on the road.

USC used a five-run fifth inning to tie the game up and then scored in the seventh and ninth to pick up the win and move to 4-2 on the season. San Diego State falls to 5-2 on the year.

The Trojans took advantage of some SDSU miscues, scoring seven unearned runs on the day. USC's first run came on a grounder that was thrown away by the Aztec shortstop. That also extended the inning and allowed Ben Ramirez to come up with a bases-loaded triple and make it a one-run contest. Jamal O'Guinn would single Ramirez home to tie the game.

Rhylan Thomas worked a 10-pitch at bat and then grounded to second, but his speed down the base path induced a quick throw that got away and plated the go-ahead run for USC. A failed pickoff attempt by the SDSU catcher added another run for the Trojans in the seventh.

A four-run ninth inning for USC put the game well out of reach. O'Guinn drove in a run and Ben Wanger had a two-run double.

After a bit of a rough start for Alex Cornwell, the Trojan bullpen did a good job holding the Aztecs in check while the USC bats rallied. Five Trojan arms threw the final 5.1 innings, with the bullpen giving up four hits and no runs.

Carson Lambert relieved Cornwell with one out in the fourth, allowing a pair of inherited runners to score before getting the final out of the frame and stranding a runner. Quentin Longrie came in and got one big out in the fifth, getting a strikeout to end the inning with two runners on.

Ethan Hoopingarner tossed scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh, mowing down all five batters he faced and getting some help on a caught stealing by USC catcher Tyler Lozano on an inherited runner in the sixth. Chandler Champlain faced some adversity in the eighth when a fly ball found its way down in no-mans land to give SDSU runners on the corners with two outs, but Champlain fanned the next batter to end the inning and fire up the USC dugout.

Wanger had little trouble in the ninth, setting the side down in order on six pitches to seal the win.

TOP PERFORMERS

Ben Ramirez had a triple, three RBI and two runs scored on the day.
Jamal O'Guinn was 1-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and two walks.
Ben Wanger went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored. Wanger also tossed a perfect ninth inning, striking out one batter.
Ethan Hoopingarner threw 2.0 flawless innings, striking out one batter.

UP NEXT
The Trojans stay on the road on Tuesday, heading to Cal State Fullerton for a non-conference matchup. USC then hosts Keio University from Japan for an exhibition game at Dedeaux Field on Wednesday night.

Hear from @USCCoachGill after the Trojans won 2 of 3 on the weekend. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/gUjqsO3DCL
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) February 24, 2020