USC Baseball Faces North Carolina in Super Regional

Friday, June 5

Chapel Hill, N.C.

12:00 p.m. PT

USC

North Carolina

Mason Edwards walks from the bullpen at the College Station Regional.

Photo by: Chris Mora

USC Baseball Faces North Carolina in Super Regional

June 03, 2026 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)Super Regional Central NCAA Bracket

THIS WEEK: The USC baseball team faces off with No. 4 North Carolina in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament starting on Friday. The winner of the three-game series will advance to the College World Series.

GAME SCHEDULE:
Friday - USC at North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.), June 5, 12 pm PT/3 pm ET (ESPN2)
Saturday - USC vs. North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.), June 6, 11 am PT/2 pm ET (ESPN)
Sunday - USC at North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.), June 7, TBD (if necessary)

PROBABLE PITCHERS:
Friday - USC: LHP Mason Edwards (8-0, 1.85 ERA) vs. UNC: RHP Ryan Lynch (5-4, 4.07 ERA)
Saturday – TBA
Sunday – TBA (if necessary)

BROADCAST INFO: Game one between USC and UNC will be on ESPN2 and game two will be on ESPN, with the final if necessary game TBD. 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.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UNC: The Trojans are 8-3 all-time against North Carolina, with the last meeting coming in 2012. The teams have faced each other twice in the postseason, both times at the College World Series. USC beat the Tar Heels 6-2 in the opening game of the 1966 CWS and then again beat UNC 3-2 in the second to last game of the 1978 CWS. The two programs played a three-game series in March of 2012, with the Tar Heels taking two-of-three in Chapel Hill.

NCAA REGIONAL NOTES: The Trojans battled their way through the losers bracket to win the College Station Regional last weekend, losing the opening game and then coming back to win four straight, including the last two against hosts No. 11 Texas A&M, to advance to the Super Regional round for the first time since 2001.

USC dropped the opener to Texas State before beating Lamar and then getting revenge against Texas State to advance to the Regional final. Playing just an hour after beating Texas State 15-4, USC took down Texas A&M 14-3 to force the if necessary game on Monday. The Trojans would rally from an early 1-0 deficit to beat the Aggies 7-1 in the finale. Augie Lopez would break the game open with a three-run shot in the seventh and drove in five of USC's seven runs to earn Regional Most Outstanding Player. Pitching on two days rest, Grant Govel gave up just one run in 4.0 innings of work and was followed by Chase Herrell who tossed 3.2 scoreless innings.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST: In five games at the College Station Regional, the USC offense was red hot, scoring 59 runs on 72 hits, batting .371 as a team with a 1.078 OPS. USC's 59 runs and +40 run differential were both the best in the country during regional play. The 59 runs were also the most ever in a regional by a USC team since the tournament format changed in 1999. The Trojans hit 10 homers and had 16 doubles at Blue Bell Park for 118 total bases. Isaac Cadena led the team in average and runs scored at the Regional, hitting .526 (10-for-19) with 8 runs, Walter Urbon led the squad in RBIs with 11, and Andrew Lamb, Augie Lopez and Adrian Lopez all had two home runs.

PITCHING DOMINANCE: The Trojan pitching staff was dominant throughout the regular 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.

POWER SURGE: USC's 88 home runs on the year are the most by a Trojan team since 2000 when USC had 94 longs balls. The program record is 114 set in 1998 (the last time the Trojans won a CWS title), with this year's total the third most in USC history. 14 different Trojans have hits homers this year, with four players reaching the double-digit mark. USC is hitting .282 as a team and has a team slugging percentage of .485.

2026 PLAYER NOTES:
HITTERS

Abbrie Covarrubias has been a catalyst to the Trojan offense this season with 40 runs scored and leading the team with 18 stolen bases. Covarrubias is slashing .282/.385/.396, has 30 RBI and 28 walks. He earned All-Regional Team honors in College Station after hitting .350 and posting a .541 OBP in the leadoff spot.
Adrian Lopez has served as a consistent run producer in the middle of the USC order, currently leading the team in runs scored (65) and 3rd in RBI (47). Lopez is slashing .304/.385/.542, with 29 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles, 2 triples and 13 homers.
Augie Lopez has proven to be extremely productive in the designated hitter spot for the Trojans. He's currently leading the team with 19 home runs, is third with a .605 slugging percentage, and is 2nd on the team with 57 RBI. Lopez's 19 homers are the most by a Trojan since Ricky Oropesa's 20 in 2010. The sophomore was named the most outstanding player at the College Station Regional.
Andrew Lamb has emerged as one of the best power bats in the USC lineup, currently 3rd on the team with 12 home runs. Lamb homered in three straight games from 3/10-13 and had a three-run homer against Washington and had two homers at the College Station Regional to earn All-Regional Team honors.. His .545 slugging percentage is 4th on the team.
Jack Basseer has emerged as one of USC's top hitters this season, leading the team in OBP while slashing .341/.441/.629. He has 27 extra-base hits, with 10 homers, 2 triples and 15 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 (59) and walks (43), is 2nd in runs (63) and hits (72) and is third in batting average (.309). 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. At the College Station Regional he earned All-Regional Team honors.
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 .305/.436/.524, with 8 home runs, 51 runs scored, 35 RBI, 16 doubles and 3 triples. Cadena led USC with a .526 batting average at the College Station Regional to earn All-Regional Team honors.
Walter Urbon has established himself as a regular in the outfield over the last few weeks of the season. Since May 2, Urbon has made 14 starts and now leads the team with a .406 average, posting a .435 OBP and team-high .641 slugging percentage. He has 3 homers and 6 doubles, with 17 RBI and 13 runs scored. Urbon led the team with 11 RBI at the College Station Regional and was tied for the team lead with 10 total hits to earn All-Regional Team honors.

PITCHERS

Andrew Johnson has emerged as one of the most effective pitchers in USC's rotation and bullpen, posting a 3.46 ERA and 8-2 record in 21 appearances (11 starts) and 80.2 total innings. Johnson was named to the College Station All-Regional team after a heroic performance in the Regional Final where he tossed 7.1 innings and allowed just 3 runs to help USC force a decisive game 7. Johnson threw a career-high 124 pitches in the start, which came just a day after a 1.2 inning relief outing.
Adam Troy is 6th in the nation with 12 saves this season and is 21st in the NCAA with 30 appearances on the mound. Troy owns a 4.09 ERA in 33.0 innings pitched, striking out 38. The senior transfer was named to the All-Big Ten second team.
Chase Herrell has given USC innings as both a starter and reliever this season, pitching to a 4.95 ERA in 56.1 innings and 23 appearances (5 starts). Herrell's biggest performance of the season came in Game 7 against Texas A&M as he picked up the win after 3.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Diego Velazquez came to USC as both an infielder and pitcher, but has seen the most time on the mound, making 15 appearances with 5 starts. The freshman has given up just 24 hits, 9 walks, and has struck out 34 in 31.2 innings. Velasquez 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 4.84 ERA in 25 appearances and 2 starts in 44.2 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 2.93 ERA in 98.1 innings pitched, striking out 96 batters while walking just 15. His 0.88 WHIP is 2nd in the nation, 1.37 BB/9 is 12th and 6.40 K/BB ratio is 13th. 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. At the College Station Regional, Govel was key to the Trojans picking up a win in the dcisive game on Monday, tossing 4.0 innings in the start and giving up just one run. His Game 7 start game just two days after throwing 5.2 innings in the opener.
Mason Edwards has established himself as one of the top arms in the country this season, posting a 1.85 ERA through 16 starts and 92.2 innings pitched. His ERA and 4.86 H/9 rank 2nd nationally, 164 strikeouts rank 1st in the country and his 15.93 K/9 are tops in the country as well. Edwards' 1.00 WHIP is 12th in the country as well. 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 164 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 3rd in the NCAA with 35 appearances on the mound, posting a 3.64 ERA with 54 K's and a .199 opp BA. Matson had a crucial 3.2 scoreless relief innings against Texas State to help USC reach the Regional final and came back the next day to get the final out of the eighth inning in Game 7 against Texas A&M.