Trojans Fall 7-5 to No. 2 UCLA at Dodger Stadium

Sunday, March 10

Los Angeles, CA

3:00 PM

USC

5-9

UCLA

11-3

USC

UCLA

Photo by: John McGillen

Trojans Fall 7-5 to No. 2 UCLA at Dodger Stadium

March 10, 2019 | Baseball, Features

Box Score Box Score

LOS ANGELES – The USC baseball team grabbed an early lead, but couldn't hold on against No. 2 UCLA on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, falling 7-5.

The Trojans fall to 5-9 with the loss, while UCLA moves to 11-3. The teams are now 4-4 against each other in the Dodger Stadium Classic.

USC got on the board immediately after Blake Sabol took the first pitch of the game deep to right field for a solo-homer. The Trojans would tack on two more courtesy of a two-run single by Ben Ramirez in the second and then took a 4-0 lead in the third when Matthew Acosta brought home Chase Bushor on a single up the middle.

The Bruins would strike back with a three-run third inning, scoring on a pair of singles and one Trojan error.

Chandler Champlain got the start on the mound and battled through 3.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits. The freshman righty worked out of a bases-loaded first inning jam, getting a strikeout to strand all three runners. He would be replaced by Chris Clarke in the fourth with a pair of runners on, but Clarke held onto a 4-3 lead for the Trojans with a pickoff and lineout.

UCLA took the lead in the seventh thanks to a pair of Trojan miscues, scoring the tying run on a passed ball and going ahead on a throwing error that would have ended the inning. Another two-run inning in the eighth for the Bruins put things out of reach.

USC would make it interesting in the ninth, getting a pair of runners on and then scoring on a Sabol single, but that was it for the day.

TOP PERFORMERS

Blake Sabol went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, hitting his first homer of the season.
Ben Ramirez drove in two runs, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
Matthew Acosta was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Chandler Champlain tossed 3.1 innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.
Chris Clarke threw 3.2 innings, giving up one hit and two unearned runs, while striking out four.

COMING UP
The Trojans hit the road for the first time this season, heading to Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday and then to Cal next weekend to open up Pac-12 play.

Also hear from @Blake_Sabol24 after his two-RBI day.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/sVrH2z2JsZ
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 11, 2019

Hear from Head Coach @DanHubbs40 after today's rivalry matchup at Dodger Stadium.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/iSdLvQidTD
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 11, 2019