Trojans Shine With 5-2 Win in Series Opener at Stanford

Friday, March 15

Stanford, Calif.

6:05 PM

USC

5-12, 2-2

Stanford

8-8, 2-2

USC

Stanford

Trojans Shine With 5-2 Win in Series Opener at Stanford

March 15, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STANFORD, Calif. – The USC baseball team got dominant pitching and was efficient on the offensive end to take down Stanford, 5-2, in the series opener at Sunken Diamond on Friday night.

Caden Aoki led the way with a stellar six-inning start as the Trojans improve to 5-12 overall and 2-2 in Pac-12 play. Stanford falls to 8-8, 2-2 Pac-12.

USC jumped ahead 1-0 in the first thanks to an RBI single from Ryan Jackson, but Stanford would tie it in the second inning. The teams stayed knotted at 1-1 until Carson Wells hit a sac fly in the fifth. Ethan Hedges followed with a sac fly in the sixth, and then USC got a pair of insurance runs in the ninth thanks to an RBI triple from Austin Overn and an RBI groundout from Jacob Galloway. Stanford homered in the ninth, but that was it for the Cardinal.

Aoki tossed a season-high 6.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one run while only walking one and striking out four. His final out of the sixth was a strikeout that stranded a Stanford runner on third, keeping USC in front 3-1.

Xavier Martinez was just as effective in his 2.0 relief innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings. Josh Blum finished things out in the ninth, giving up the leadoff homer, but settled in to retire the next three batters in order.

TOP PERFORMERS

Caden Aoki: 6.0 IP, 4H, ER, BB, 4K
Xavier Martinez: 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K
Austin Overn: 2-for-4, RBI, R, 3B, BB
Ryan Jackson: 2-for-3, RBI, R, 3B, BB

COMING UP
The Trojans continue their series at Stanford with a 2 p.m. matchup on Saturday and then a 2 p.m. finale on Sunday.

Hear from @Cadenaoki after his dominant start tonight at Stanford ✌️ #FightOn pic.twitter.com/7as572E1dZ
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 16, 2024