No. 21 USC Baseball Hosts Rutgers, Cal State Fullerton

Friday, May 1

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 p.m. PT

USC

Rutgers

Kevin Takeuchi, Alaka'i Kiakona high five in the dugout.

Photo by: Kevin Kim

No. 21 USC Baseball Hosts Rutgers, Cal State Fullerton

April 30, 2026 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)Game Day Info

THIS WEEK: The No. 21 USC baseball team returns to Dedeaux Field to resume Big Ten play, hosting Rutgers in a three-game series beginning on Friday. The Trojans will then face Cal State Fullerton for a non-conference rematch on Tuesday.

GAME SCHEDULE:
Friday - USC vs. Rutgers (Dedeaux Field), May 1, 7 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Saturday - USC vs. Rutgers (Dedeaux Field), May 2, 2 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Sunday - USC vs. Rutgers (Dedeaux Field), May 3, 1 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Tuesday - USC vs. Cal State Fullerton (Dedeaux Field), May 5, 7 p.m. PT (B1G+)

BROADCAST INFO: All games this week 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.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS RUTGERS: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Scarlet Knights and the Trojans. With USC entering the Big Ten last season, the Trojans will open their all-time series against Rutgers on Friday.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS CSUF: The Trojans hold a 52-58-1 all-time record against the Titans in a series that dates back to 1969, when USC secured a 10th-inning walk-off victory in the first meeting. The two programs met last week at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, where USC secured a 9-2 victory over the Titans.

SERIES VS PURDUE: USC picked up its seventh sweep of the season, taking all three games against Purdue at home last weekend. The Trojans scored two runs in the sixth to come back in the opener and then got a gem from Grant Govel on Saturday as he took a perfect game into the eighth inning to lead USC to a 6-1 victory. The Trojan bats erased an early 3-0 deficit on Sunday and Andrew Johnson tossed 5.0 scoreless relief innings as USC took the finale 11-4.

MIDWEEK WIN AT CSUF: The Trojans totaled nine runs on 17 hits in a 9-2 win at Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night, marking their second-highest hit total of the season. Diego Velsquez had a strong start on the mound, allowing just one hit and no runs. Chase Herrell added 2.0 scoreless innings on the mound, while Sax Matson, Adam Troy and Grant Govel each tossed scoreless frames to close it out. USC limited the Titans to six hits, did not commit an error, and issued just two walks.

SEVEN SWEEPS: USC's seven sweeps on the year marks a program record, surpassing the previous mark of six sweeps, accomplished in both 1991 and 1996. The Trojans have swept seven of the 11 series the team has played this season.

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. USC was also the first team to 20 wins in the country and was one of just four teams to hit 30 wins at the time. The Trojans' 30-7 record marked the fastest a USC team has gotten to 30 wins in a season since 1978 and this year's squad is one of just three Trojan teams to ever start a season 30-7, joining the 1978 and 1961 teams.

IN THE RANKINGS:

NCBWA - No. 20
Perfect Game - No. 19
USA Today Coaches Poll - No. 17
Baseball America - No. 19
D1Baseball - No. 21
NCAA RPI - No. 10

PITCHING DOMINANCE: The Trojan pitching staff has been dominant throughout the season, posting the No. 2 Hits/9 (6.93), No. 3 shutouts (6), No. 8 WHIP (1.22), and No. 12 ERA (3.82) in the country.

2026 PLAYER NOTES:
HITTERS

Abbrie Covarrubias has been the catalyst to the Trojan offense this season with 33 runs scored and leading the team with 16 stolen bases. Covarrubias is slashing .276/.378/.374, has 22 RBI and is 2nd on the team with 22 walks.
Adrian Lopez has served as a consistent run producer in the middle of the USC order, currently sitting 2nd on the team in runs scored (41) and 3rd in RBI (31). Lopez is slashing .315/.396/.512, with 18 extra-base hits, including 10 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers.
Augie Lopez has proven to be productive in the designated hitter spot for the Trojans. He's currently leading the team with 14 home runs, a .655 slugging percentage, and is second on the team with 37 RBI. Lopez had 9 RBI, 5 runs, and 3 home runs in the series against Maryland.
Andrew Lamb has emerged as one of the best power bats in the USC lineup, currently 2nd on the team with 7 home runs. Lamb homered in three straight games from 3/10-13 and had a three-run homer against Washington. His .532 slugging percentage is 3rd on the team.
Jack Basseer is tied for 3rd on the squad with 6 long balls and 1st on the team with a .340 batting average. He has driven in 21 runs and scored 25, making him second on the team with a .630 slugging percentage. Basseer had a walk-off, two-run shot against CSU Bakersfield on 3/18.
Kevin Takeuchi has been the Trojans' offensive leader all season. He leads the team in hits (51) and RBI (43), is 3rd on the team in batting average (.304), and 4th in walks (21). Takeuchi also has 11 stolen bases on 12 attempts, has scored 42 runs and has a team-high 11 doubles and 3 triples.
Maximo Martinez broke into the lineup in the third week of the season and has since slashed .256/.372/.380. He had a career game against Cal Poly on 4/28, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, three doubles, and a grand slam.
Maddox Riske had himself a day in the third game of the Cal Poly series, going 5-for-6 with 2 RBI and 2 runs, becoming the first Trojan to record five hits in a game since 2022.
Richard Tejeda has been a regular behind the dish for USC this season. At Northwestern, Tejeda went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and a two-run home run.
Isaac Cadena has come on strong both at the plate and behind it as the season has gone on. The junior transfer is now slashing .266/.415/.432, with 4 home runs, 32 runs scored, 19 RBI, 9 doubles and 1 triple.

PITCHERS

Andrew Johnson has emerged as one of the most effective pitchers in USC's rotation, posting a 4.09 ERA and 4-2 record in 10 starts and 55.0 total innings.
Adam Troy is 2nd the nation with 11 saves this season and is 12th in the NCAA with 23 appearances on the mound. Troy owns a 4.01 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched, striking out 30.
Diego Velazquez came to USC as both an infielder and pitcher, but has seen the most time on the mound, making 10 appearances with 1 start. The freshman has given up just 12 hits, 5 walks, and has struck out 19 in 14.2 innings.
Gavin Lauridsen has been a key arm in high-leverage relief situations this year, posting a 5.29 ERA in 19 appearances and 2 starts in 32.1 innings pitched. Lauridsen earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors after 3.0 scoreless innings against Washington on March 20.
Grant Govel has been like a second ace as USC's Saturday starter. He's sitting 3rd in the Big Ten with a 2.69 ERA in 67.0 innings pitched, striking out 68 batters while walking just 8. His 0.81 WHIP leads the Big Ten and the nation. Govel was named both National and Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after 6.0 hitless innings against Pepperdine on opening weekend and Big Ten POTW after 7.0 scoreless frames against Northwestern.
Mason Edwards has established himself as one of the top arms in the country this season, posting a 1.79 ERA through 11 starts and 65.1 innings pitched. His ERA ranks 10th nationally, his hits allowed per nine innings leads the NCAA, his 119 strikeouts rank 1st in the country and in the conference, and his 0.96 WHIP is 2nd in the Big Ten. The junior left-hander also put together a scoreless streak of 29.2 consecutive innings. Edwards has been named B1G Pitcher of the Week three times this season, Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week once, and Perfect Game Midseason Pitcher of the Year.
Sax Matson has established himself as a key relief pitcher for the Trojans. This season, he leads the team and the NCAA with 28 appearances on the mound, posting a 4.40 ERA.