USC
4-1
Villanova
3-1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clarke, Chris (1-1)
L: Jonathan Rosero (0-1)
Batting:
2B: JP Radvany 2 ; Ryan Toohers 1 ; Timothy Lilly 1
3B: Tyler Bruno 1
RBI: JP Radvany 2 ; Tyler Bruno 1 ; Ryan Toohers 1 ; Timothy Lilly 1 ; Pat O'Neill 1
SF: Ryan Toohers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: David Gulati 1 ; JP Radvany 1 ; Tyler Bruno 1 ; Ryan Toohers 1 ; Timothy Lilly 1 ; Josh Kim 1
Batting:
2B: Acosta, Matthew 1
RBI: Nootbaar, Lars 1 ; Acosta, Matthew 2 ; Perez, Brandon 1 ; Bushor, Chase 1 ; Thomas, John 2 ; Shockey, Brady 1 ; Ramirez, Ben 2
SF: Perez, Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nootbaar, Lars 2 ; Moya, Christian 1 ; Acosta, Matthew 1 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; Perez, Brandon 1 ; Paulson, Dillon 1 ; Sabol, Blake 1 ; Armenta, Angelo 1 ; Shockey, Brady 2 ; Ramirez, Ben 3 ; Murphy, Kaleb 1
SB: Thomas, John 1
CS: Armenta, Angelo 1
HBP: O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; Bates, RJ 1 ; Murphy, Kaleb 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
USC Breaks Out Bats With 15-6 Win Over Villanova
February 23, 2018 | Baseball, Features
The Trojans took advantage of 15 walks in the game and scored 10 runs in the fourth inning to move to 4-1 on the year. Villanova drops to 3-1 with the loss.
Seven different Trojans drove in runs on the night, with three players driving in multiple runs. USC sent 19 different players to the plate in the game. The 15 walks were the most by a USC team since 1995.
Villanova jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning, but the Trojans would tie it back up in the bottom of the third. The Trojans followed with 10 runs in the next frame, taking advantage of 11 free passes (10 walks, one hit-by-pitch). The 10 walks in the fourth inning matched the second most in one inning in NCAA history. Matthew Acosta drove in two runs with a double in the fourth and Ben Ramirez drove in two with a single up the middle.
Chris Clarke picked up the win with 6.0 strong innings pitched after getting the start. He allowed five hits and struck out four to move to 1-1 on the year.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Ramirez went 3-for-4 at the plate, with two RBI and three runs scored.
- Acosta had a double, two RBI and one runs scored.
- Lars Nootbaar was 1-for-1 with three walks, one RBI and one runs scored, plus a web gem catch in left.
- Clarke picked up the win with 6.0 innings pitched, five hits and two earned runs allowed and four strikeouts.
"The guys were patient at the plate and took what Villanova was going to give us," said Head Coach Dan Hubbs. "Their starter started off really well, but then gave up a few passes and didn't get a few calls, and we were able to take advantage. We strung together some really patient at-bats and looked a lot more mature at the plate. Matthew had the big hit down the left-field line and it kind of snowballed from there."
"I thought Chris really settled in after the second inning and did a nice job on the mound for us," said Hubbs. "Then it was nice to get a lot of guys in there for their first action."
"I was seeing the ball well out there tonight and I think that was true for all of us," said freshman Ben Ramirez, who now leads all Trojans with a .500 average at the plate. "We just waited for the right pitches to hit and were able to put the barrel on them tonight. For me, with each at-bat I get I feel more and more comfortable. Then to have Chris throw the way he did was huge for us, and to get Riley Lamb and Isaac Esqueda out there was awesome. I'm excited for where our pitching is heading."
COMING UP
The Trojans host two more games against the Wildcats this weekend and then play an exhibition against the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Association at Dedeaux Field on Monday, and host Loyola Marymount on Tuesday.
