No. 13 USC Baseball Hosts San Diego State, CSU Bakersfield

Tuesday, March 17

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:30 p.m. PT

USC

San Diego State

Maximo Martinez, Will Stickney walk back to the dugout.

Photo by: Katie Chin

No. 13 USC Baseball Hosts San Diego State, CSU Bakersfield

March 16, 2026 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)

THIS WEEK: The No. 13 USC baseball team returns to Southern California for a pair of nonconference midweek games, hosting San Diego State on Tuesday and CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday.

GAME SCHEDULE:
Tuesday - USC vs. San Diego State (Dedeaux Field), March 17, 6:30 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Wednesday - USC vs. CSU Bakersfield (Dedeaux Field), March 18, 6:30 p.m. PT (B1G+)

PROBABLE PITCHERS:
Tuesday - USC: RHP Chase Herrell (2-0, 4.05 ERA) vs. SDSU: RHP Bryan McKnight (1-0, 4.91 ERA)
Wednesday - USC: LHP Ace Whitehead (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. CSUB: TBA

BROADCAST INFO: Both games will be broadcast on B1G+. Links to the broadcasts are available on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.

FOLLOW: Fans can also follow the action through live stats on USCTrojans.com. Live, in-game updates will be available for all games from @USC_Baseball on X as well.

GET SOCIAL: Follow USC Baseball on social media to get updates on everything going on with the team this season. The Trojans can be followed at @USC_Baseball on X, at @sctrojans_baseball on Instagram and USC Trojans Baseball on Facebook.

2026 HOME GAMES: After two seasons playing the majority of its home games at Great Park in Irvine, USC returns home to the new Dedeaux Field. The project, which features a brand new stadium, clubhouse, training facility and offices for the program, is still ongoing and will be completed after the conclusion of the 2026 season. Despite certain elements of the stadium still being under construction, USC will welcome fans into Dedeaux Field this season, with all home games being free and open to the public. Temporary concessions and restrooms will be available all season long. Seating will be first come first serve. For more information visit USCTrojans.com/baseballgameday.

SERIES WIN AT NORTHWESTERN: The Trojans went 2-1 on the road at Northwestern this past weekend, winning the opener on Friday, 15-1, in seven innings and then splitting a doubleheader on Saturday. The Trojans tossed a two-hit shutout in the early game of the doubleheader and then fell 2-1 in the late game under snowy conditions in Evanston.

WALKOFF VS USD: The Trojans closed out this midweek matchup with its perfect record intact after a 7-6 walkoff victory in the 10th inning. San Diego scored in the fourth inning to take a 2–1 lead, but Andrew Lamb responded with a three-run homer in the bottom put USC back in front. San Diego briefly regained a 6–5 lead with three runs in the seventh, but Will Stickney tied the game with a pinch-hit RBI single in the bottom of the inning. A sacrifice fly from Adrian Lopez helped push the Trojans to 17–0 on the season.

HISTORY MADE VS LBSU: The Trojans surpassed the 1988 Trojan squad for the longest season-opening winning streak in program history. Andrew Lamb got the scoring started for the Trojans with a three-run homer in the second inning, and Máximo Martínez added an RBI single in the third to give USC a 4–0 lead. The Trojans added two insurance runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Lamb and an RBI double by Maddox Riske to make it 6–1.

HOT START: The Trojans' 19-0 start to the season marked the best in program history and tied the USC record for the longest winning streak in program history, set in 1955. The Trojans were the final unbeaten team in the country before suffering their first loss of the season in the second game of a doubleheader at Northwestern.

IN THE RANKINGS: The Trojans moved up to No. 10 in the latest Perfect Game poll, No. 11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 13 in both the D1Baseball and Baseball America's rankings, and No. 17 in the NCBWA poll. USC is outscoring opponents 133-38 through the first five weeks of the season.

PITCHING DOMINANCE: The Trojan pitching staff has been dominant through five weeks of play, posting the No. 1 ERA (1.61) in the country, No. 1 Hits/9 (4.79), No. 1 WHIP (0.92), No. 1 shutouts (5), No. 18 K/9 (11.1) and No. 18 K/BB ratio (3.19).

WEEKLY AWARDS: Grant Govel picked up his second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award this week after tossing 7.0 shutout innings at Northwestern. Govel allowed two hits and no walks, while striking out six batters. USC now has earned four of the five B1G Pitcher of the Week awards this season, with Govel earning the honor on Feb. 16 and March 16, and Mason Edwards on March 2 and 9.