USC Baseball Opens NCAA Regional Play against Texas State

Friday, May 29

College Station, Texas

6:00 p.m. PT

USC

Texas State

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Trojans pose on the field in Omaha at Charles Schwab Field before the Big Ten Tournament.

Photo by: Chris Mora

USC Baseball Opens NCAA Regional Play against Texas State

May 26, 2026 | Baseball

Tickets College Station Regional Info NCAA Bracket Game Notes (PDF)

THIS WEEK: The No. 25 USC baseball team opens NCAA Regional play on Friday, taking on Texas State in its opening game at the College Station Regional hosted by Texas A&M. USC comes in as the No. 2 seed in the regional after receiving an at-large berth.

GAME SCHEDULE:
Friday - USC vs. Texas State (College Station, Texas), May 29, 6 p.m. PT/8 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

BROADCAST INFO: The Trojans' opening game at regional play will be televised on ESPNU. ESPN holds the broadcast rights to the entire NCAA Baseball Tournament. Links and network information for all 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.

USC SEASON RESUME: The Trojans yet again saw marked improvement under Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz this season, posting the program's first 40-win season since 2005. USC finished the regular season 43-15 (the most wins by a USC team since 2001) and made its second straight NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001-02. The Trojans had a strong case for a host bid this year, entering the postseason with the No. 9 RPI in the country, the most shutouts in the nation (10) and the second most series sweeps (9) in the NCAA. USC won 11-of-14 series on the year, with the only three series losses coming on the road to Top 15 RPI squads. USC set a program record this season, starting the year 19-0 and holding the distinction of being the last undefeated team in the country on March 14. The Trojans also set a program record with a 32-1 home record, losing their only game at the brand new Dedeaux Field on March 24 against then No. 16 Oregon State.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. TXST: Friday will be the first ever meeting between USC and Texas State.

B1G TOURNAMENT: The Trojans advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament with a 7-0 win over 12th-seeded Michigan State on Friday. Mason Edwards led the way with 4.0 scoreless innings, only leaving the game early after a 90-minute rain delay after the top of the fourth. USC scored all seven of its runs with two outs. USC went toe-to-toe with No. 1 UCLA in the semifinal matchup on Saturday, rallying to take the lead in the top of the ninth with two runs before falling 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off home run.

B1G AWARDS: Mason Edwards highlighted the Big Ten Postseason awards for USC, earning B1G Pitcher of the Year with the release early last week. Edwards was joined by Govel on the first team, Jack Basseer and Adam Troy were on the second team, Diego Velazquez on the All-Freshman Team and Andrew Lamb earned the B1G Sportsman Award. Govel was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

HOME DOMINANCE: The Trojans finished their regular-season with the best home record in program history at 32-1. The previous record was 30-3 set back in 1978. This year's record-setting mark comes in the first season at the new Dedeaux Field. USC's only loss at home this year was on March 24 against then-No. 16 Oregon State.

NINE SWEEPS: USC's nine 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 nine of the 14 series the team has played this season, including all eight at home. USC's nine sweeps were the second most in the NCAA this year.

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.

PITCHING DOMINANCE: The Trojan pitching staff has been dominant throughout the season, posting the No. 1 Hits/9 (6.98), No. 1 shutouts (10), No. 4 WHIP (1.20), and No. 6 ERA (3.48) in the country.

IN THE RANKINGS:

NCBWA - No. 18
Perfect Game - No. 19
USA Today Coaches Poll - No. 19
Baseball America - No. 22
D1Baseball - No. 25
NCAA RPI - No. 9

MIDSEASON WATCHLISTS/AWARDS:

Mason Edwards: Golden Spikes semifinalist, D1Baseball/Baseball America/Perfect Game Midseason Pitcher of the Year, D1Baseball Midseason All-America first team, NCBWA National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist
Grant Govel: Golden Spikes watch list, Baseball American Midseason Pitcher of the Year watch list
Andy Stankiewicz - Perfect Game Midseason Coach of the Year
Adam Troy - NCBWA Stopper of the Year semifinalist

WEEKLY AWARDS:

Feb. 16 - National/B1G Pitcher - Grant Govel
March 2 - B1G Pitcher - Mason Edwards
March 9 - National/B1G Pitcher - Mason Edwards
March 16 - B1G Pitcher - Grant Govel
March 23 - B1G Pitcher - Mason Edwards
March 23 - B1G Freshman - Gavin Lauridsen
April 27 - B1G Pitcher - Grant Govel
May 4 - B1G Freshman - Diego Velazquez
May 4 - B1G Pitcher - Mason Edwards
May 11 - National/B1G Player - Jack Basseer

2026 PLAYER NOTES:
HITTERS

Abbrie Covarrubias has been a catalyst to the Trojan offense this season with 35 runs scored and leading the team with 17 stolen bases. Covarrubias is slashing .275/.371/.374, has 27 RBI and 22 walks.
Adrian Lopez has served as a consistent run producer in the middle of the USC order, currently tied for the team lead in runs scored (56) and 3rd in RBI (41). Lopez is slashing .300/.383/.525, with 25 extra-base hits, including 12 doubles, 2 triples and 11 homers.
Augie Lopez has proven to be productive in the designated hitter spot for the Trojans. He's currently leading the team with 17 home runs, is second with a .596 slugging percentage, and is 2nd on the team with 48 RBI. Lopez's 17 homers are the most by a Trojan since Ricky Oropesa's 20 in 2010.
Andrew Lamb has emerged as one of the best power bats in the USC lineup, currently tied for 3rd on the team with 10 home runs. Lamb homered in three straight games from 3/10-13 and had a three-run homer against Washington. His .545 slugging percentage is 3rd on the team.
Jack Basseer has emerged as USC's top hitter this season, leading the team in all three slash categories at .356/.446/.678. He has 26 extra-base hits, with 10 homers, 2 triples and 14 doubles. Basseer had a walk-off, two-run shot against CSU Bakersfield on 3/18. Basseer was also named to the All-Big Ten second team and has one B1G Player of the Week Award this season after driving in nine runs against Nevada.
Kevin Takeuchi has been one of the Trojans' offensive leaders all season. He leads the team in RBI (52), runs (56) and walks (39), is 2nd in hits (64) and batting average (.305). Takeuchi also has 14 stolen bases in 15 attempts. The versatile junior has spent time at centerfield, second base and third base so far this year.
Dean Carpentier has taken a regular role at the shortstop spot as of late. In his last 10 games, Carpentier is hitting .316, with 8 RBI and 7 runs scored.
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 .283/.414/.497, with 7 home runs, 43 runs scored, 31 RBI, 14 doubles and 3 triples.
Walter Urbon has established himself as a regular in the outfield over the last couple weeks. Since May 2, Urbon has made 9 starts, going 15-for-39 at the plate. He has 2 homers, 3 doubles, 6 RBI and 8 runs scored, hitting .385 overall.

PITCHERS

Andrew Johnson has emerged as one of the most effective pitchers in USC's rotation and bullpen, posting a 3.52 ERA and 7-2 record in 19 appearances (10 starts) and 71.2 total innings.
Adam Troy is 5th in the nation with 12 saves this season and is 24th in the NCAA with 28 appearances on the mound. Troy owns a 4.02 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched, striking out 37. The senior transfer was named to the All-Big Ten second team.
Diego Velazquez came to USC as both an infielder and pitcher, but has seen the most time on the mound, making 14 appearances with 4 starts. The freshman has given up just 21 hits, 6 walks, and has struck out 31 in 28.1 innings. Diego earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors after 4.0 scoreless innings against Rutgers and was recently named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Gavin Lauridsen has been a key arm in high-leverage relief situations this year, posting a 4.43 ERA in 23 appearances and 2 starts in 42.2 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 4th in the Big Ten with a 2.84 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched, striking out 86 batters while walking just 11. His 0.86 WHIP is 2nd in the Big Ten and the nation, and his 7.82 K/BB ratio and 1.12 BB/9 are 5th and 6th in the country respectively. Govel has been named B1G Pitcher of the Week three times, National Pitcher of the Week once, and is a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year award in addition to being on the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team and to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
Mason Edwards has established himself as one of the top arms in the country this season, posting a 1.43 ERA through 15 starts and 88.1 innings pitched. His ERA ranks 2nd nationally, H/9 of 4.59 leads the NCAA, 160 strikeouts rank 1st in the country and his 16.43 K/9 are tops in the country as well. Edwards' 0.95 WHIP is 6th in the country and his 3.28 WAR leads all pitchers in the NCAA. The junior left-hander also put together a scoreless streak of 29.2 consecutive innings to start the year. 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, in addition to being a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes and National Pitcher of the Year awards. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year this season as well, becoming USC's first conference pitcher of the year since Ian Kennedy in 2005. His 160 K's are the 4th most in USC history and the most since Mark Prior in 2001.
Sax Matson has established himself as a key relief pitcher for the Trojans. This season, he leads the team and is 4th in the NCAA with 32 appearances on the mound, posting a 4.14 ERA with 49 K's and a .195 opp BA.