University Southern California Trojans
USC
27-4, 10-3
UCLA
27-2, 13-0
No. 12 USC Baseball Drops First Game Against No. 1 UCLA
April 03, 2026 | Baseball
The Bruins scored eight runs in the final two innings to hand the Trojans the loss.
The Trojans (27-4, 10-3 Big Ten) tied the game at four runs apiece with Augie Lopez's solo home run in the sixth, but the Bruins (27-2, 13-0 Big Ten) scored eight runs in the final two innings to take the first game of the rivalry series.
In a highly anticipated top-15 matchup, the Bruins struck first by getting on the board with a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the first. But the Trojans answered in the top of the second when Adrian Lopez got aboard on a single and Andrew Lamb blasted his sixth home run of the season to make it a 2-1 game.
UCLA would tie the score in the third inning before a tumultuous fourth inning put USC in a 4-2 hole. Bruin outfielder Dean West hit a double into left-center field to bring two runs home, then Mason Edwards walked Roman Martin with the bases loaded.
Despite loading the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth, the Trojans only put one run on the board when Abbrie Covarrubias reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Kevin Takeuchi. But in the next inning, Augie Lopez blasted a solo shot to dead center to tie the score.
Yet the score didn't remain tied for long. UCLA put up another run in the seventh inning before breaking open the game with a seven-run eighth inning that chased two Trojan pitchers out of the game.
USC starter Mason Edwards had five strikeouts in 4.2 innings while allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Gavin Lauridsen (2-1) was credited with the loss, while UCLA reliever Zach Strickland (3-1) earned the win.
TOP PERFORMERS
Augie Lopez: 1-for-4, RBI, HR
Andrew Lamb: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2-R HR
Mason Edwards: 4.2 IP, 7H, 4R, 4BB
COMING UP
The second game of the crosstown rivalry series is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. PT in Jackie Robinson Stadium in Westwood, Calif. The game will be broadcasted on B1G+. All pertinent links can be found on the baseball team's schedule page on usctrojans.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Strickland, Zach (3-1)
L: Lauridsen, Gavin (2-1)
S: Hawk, Easton (4)
Batting:
HR: Lopez, Augie 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1
RBI: Covarrubias, Abbrie 1 ; Lopez, Augie 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Augie 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
PO: Cadena, Isaac 1
Batting:
2B: West, Dean 1 ; Brennan, Payton 1
HR: Martin, Roman 1
RBI: West, Dean 1 ; Levu, Mulivai 2 ; Martin, Roman 2 ; Brennan, Payton 3 ; Gasparino, Will 2
SH: Call, Phoenix 1
Base Running:
RUNS: West, Dean 2 ; Cholowsky, Roch 1 ; Levu, Mulivai 2 ; Martin, Roman 2 ; Brennan, Payton 2 ; Gasparino, Will 1 ; Cadiz, Dominic 1 ; Call, Phoenix 1
HBP: West, Dean 1
