Tuesday, March 12
Fullerton, CA
6:00 PM
USC
at
Cal State Fullerton
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
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RHP/1B
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RHP
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OF
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RHP
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INF/OF
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INF/OF
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C/1B
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1B
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Photo by: John McGillen
USC Hits the Road for First Time This Season Against Fullerton
March 11, 2019 | Baseball, Features
TUESDAY: The Trojans hit the road for the first time this season when they head to Cal State Fullerton for a midweek non-conference matchup. USC is coming off of a 13-game homestand and one game at Dodger Stadium.
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GAME SCHEDULE: at Cal State Fullerton (Goodwin Field) | March 12, 6 p.m.
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BROADCAST INFO: Tuesday's game will have an audio only stream available through TuneIn Radio. A link to the broadcast is available on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.
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FOLLOW: Fans can also follow the action through live stats on USCTrojans.com. Live, in-game updates will be available from @USC_Baseball on Twitter as well.
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GET SOCIAL: Follow USC Baseball on social media to get updates on everything going on with the team this season. The Trojans can be found at @USC_Baseball on Twitter, @sctrojans on Instagram and USC Trojans Baseball on Facebook.
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LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans co-hosted the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic this past week, dropping two of three games. USC opened the competition with a loss at home to Oklahoma State, but bounced back with a 4-1 win over then-No. 16 Michigan. The Trojans fell at Dodger Stadium to No. 2 UCLA, 7-5, to close the weekend.
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SERIES VS FULLERTON: Fullerton leads 53-44-1 | First meeting: 1969 | Last year: 2018 (USC won 3-1 at CSUF / CSUF won 4-3 at USC)
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SEASON QUICK HITS:
BATTING:
THE ROSTER: The Trojans return 25 players from last year's roster and welcome a total of 11 newcomers heading into the season. The team has 3 seniors, 11 juniors (2 RS), 11 sophomores (1 RS) and 11 freshmen (1 RS). There are 17 pitchers (8 left, 9 right) and 19 position players.
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THE SCHEDULE: USC plays its first 13 games at Dedeaux Field before facing UCLA at Dodger Stadium before finally hitting the road for the first time in the third week of March. The Trojans play 32 games at home and 24 games on the road this season. The 56 game slate features seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year and three that were in the College World Series, including both of the teams from the championship final, Arkansas and Oregon State.
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STOPPER WATCH: Connor Lunn was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year (given to the top reliever in college baseball each year) watch list early this season. Lunn was the Trojans' closer all of 2018, leading the team with eight saves over the course of 30.1 innings pitched and 22 total relief appearances. The junior righty boasted a 2.97 ERA while striking out 32 batters and walking just nine last season.
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RECRUITING CLASS: The Trojans welcomed the 14th ranked recruiting class in the nation according to Baseball America and the 16th ranked class according to Perfect Game. Perfect Game also had the USC class as the highest rated class on the West Coast. D1baseball.com had the Trojan class ranked No. 21.
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SUMMER BALL: 14 Trojans spread our across the country to play summer ball this offseason, with four playing in the famed Cape Cod League (Blake Sabol, Kyle Hurt, Connor Lunn, Ben Ramirez). Four USC players earned All-Star or All-League honors in their respective leagues; Sabol (Chatham Anglers, Cape Cod League), John Thomas (Arroyo Seco Saints, California Collegiate League), Chris Clarke (Bethesda Big Train, Cal Ripken Collegiate League) and Brady Shockey (Palm Springs Power, Southern California Collegiate League). Sabol especially stood out as one of the top prospects in the Cape and even made an appearance in the league's home run derby. He was named to the Perfect Game Collegiate Summer All-American second team.
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PROSPECT RANKINGS: In the latest D1Baseball prospect rankings for the next two draft classes, four Trojans were ranked. In the 2019 draft class (350 ranked), Kyle Hurt is the 53rd ranked prospect, Blake Sabol is 63rd and Chris Clarke is 324. In the 2020 class (150 ranked), Chandler Champlain is 64th.
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IMPACT FRESHMEN: D1Baseball ranked the Top 100 impact freshmen in college baseball and three USC rookies were ranked. Chandler Champlain is ranked No. 11, Preston Hartsell No. 91 and Clay Owens No. 94.
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ALL-PAC-12 RETURNERS: The Trojans bring back a trio of players who earned All Pac-12 honorable mention last year, with Connor Lunn, Chase Bushor and Blake Sabol all returning to this year's squad. Lunn led the team with eight saves and had a 2.97 ERA, Bushor was second on the team with a .301 average and Sabol drove in 24 runs with 14 extra-base hits last year.
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DRAFTED: The Trojans had a trio of players selected in last year's MLB Draft. RHP Solomon Bates was taken in the eighth round (226 overall) by the San Francisco Giants, OF Lars Nootbaar was also selected in the eighth round by the St. Louis Cardinals (243 overall) and 1B Dillon Paulson was taken in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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DODGER STADIUM CLASSIC: USC will once again play in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic this year, facing UCLA on March 10 in Chavez Ravine. Leading up to the final at Dodger Stadium, the Trojans will host Oklahoma State on March 8 and Michigan on March 9. Michigan and Oklahoma State will play at Dodger Stadium prior to the Trojans and Bruins.
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USC TO THE MLB: No other school can claim a larger number of alumni who have made it to the big leagues, with 113 Trojans having played in the MLB. The list includes three Trojans who have made it to the MLB Hall of Fame (Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Pat Gillick), nine Cy Young Awards (Johnson 5 times, Seaver 3 times, Barry Zito once), three Rookie of the Years (Seaver, Fred Lynn, Mark McGwire), one American League MVP (Lynn), one World Series MVP (Johnson), 29 World Series appearances and 67 All-Star Game appearances. In all, 333 Trojans have been selected in the MLB Draft.
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CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Trojans have an unparalleled history of championship success at the College World Series, winning 12 total national titles (1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1998). The 12 titles are double any other team in the country and were won in 21 CWS appearances by the Trojans. USC won five straight NCAA Championships from 1970-74, a feat no other program has accomplished.
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GAME SCHEDULE: at Cal State Fullerton (Goodwin Field) | March 12, 6 p.m.
Â
BROADCAST INFO: Tuesday's game will have an audio only stream available through TuneIn Radio. A link to the broadcast is available on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.
Â
FOLLOW: Fans can also follow the action through live stats on USCTrojans.com. Live, in-game updates will be available from @USC_Baseball on Twitter as well.
Â
GET SOCIAL: Follow USC Baseball on social media to get updates on everything going on with the team this season. The Trojans can be found at @USC_Baseball on Twitter, @sctrojans on Instagram and USC Trojans Baseball on Facebook.
Â
LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans co-hosted the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic this past week, dropping two of three games. USC opened the competition with a loss at home to Oklahoma State, but bounced back with a 4-1 win over then-No. 16 Michigan. The Trojans fell at Dodger Stadium to No. 2 UCLA, 7-5, to close the weekend.
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SERIES VS FULLERTON: Fullerton leads 53-44-1 | First meeting: 1969 | Last year: 2018 (USC won 3-1 at CSUF / CSUF won 4-3 at USC)
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SEASON QUICK HITS:
- The Trojans have two walk-off wins on the season. CJ Stubbs hit a walk-off homer against Arkansas in the 10th inning of the series finale and the Trojans beat Omaha on opening day thanks to a ninth-inning RBI-single from Brandon Perez.
- Chase Bushor has reached base in all 14Â games so far this season for the Trojans.Â
BATTING:
- Doubles - CJ Stubbs (6) - 25th NCAA, 3rd Pac-12
- OBP - Jamal O'Guinn (.500) - T-10th Pac-12
- Sac Bunts - Chase Bushor (4) - 13th NCAA, T-2nd Pac-12
- Home Runs - Chase Bushor (2) - T-10th Pac-12
- Wins - Chris Clarke (2) - 55th NCAA, T-5th Pac-12
THE ROSTER: The Trojans return 25 players from last year's roster and welcome a total of 11 newcomers heading into the season. The team has 3 seniors, 11 juniors (2 RS), 11 sophomores (1 RS) and 11 freshmen (1 RS). There are 17 pitchers (8 left, 9 right) and 19 position players.
Â
THE SCHEDULE: USC plays its first 13 games at Dedeaux Field before facing UCLA at Dodger Stadium before finally hitting the road for the first time in the third week of March. The Trojans play 32 games at home and 24 games on the road this season. The 56 game slate features seven teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year and three that were in the College World Series, including both of the teams from the championship final, Arkansas and Oregon State.
Â
STOPPER WATCH: Connor Lunn was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year (given to the top reliever in college baseball each year) watch list early this season. Lunn was the Trojans' closer all of 2018, leading the team with eight saves over the course of 30.1 innings pitched and 22 total relief appearances. The junior righty boasted a 2.97 ERA while striking out 32 batters and walking just nine last season.
Â
RECRUITING CLASS: The Trojans welcomed the 14th ranked recruiting class in the nation according to Baseball America and the 16th ranked class according to Perfect Game. Perfect Game also had the USC class as the highest rated class on the West Coast. D1baseball.com had the Trojan class ranked No. 21.
Â
SUMMER BALL: 14 Trojans spread our across the country to play summer ball this offseason, with four playing in the famed Cape Cod League (Blake Sabol, Kyle Hurt, Connor Lunn, Ben Ramirez). Four USC players earned All-Star or All-League honors in their respective leagues; Sabol (Chatham Anglers, Cape Cod League), John Thomas (Arroyo Seco Saints, California Collegiate League), Chris Clarke (Bethesda Big Train, Cal Ripken Collegiate League) and Brady Shockey (Palm Springs Power, Southern California Collegiate League). Sabol especially stood out as one of the top prospects in the Cape and even made an appearance in the league's home run derby. He was named to the Perfect Game Collegiate Summer All-American second team.
Â
PROSPECT RANKINGS: In the latest D1Baseball prospect rankings for the next two draft classes, four Trojans were ranked. In the 2019 draft class (350 ranked), Kyle Hurt is the 53rd ranked prospect, Blake Sabol is 63rd and Chris Clarke is 324. In the 2020 class (150 ranked), Chandler Champlain is 64th.
Â
IMPACT FRESHMEN: D1Baseball ranked the Top 100 impact freshmen in college baseball and three USC rookies were ranked. Chandler Champlain is ranked No. 11, Preston Hartsell No. 91 and Clay Owens No. 94.
Â
ALL-PAC-12 RETURNERS: The Trojans bring back a trio of players who earned All Pac-12 honorable mention last year, with Connor Lunn, Chase Bushor and Blake Sabol all returning to this year's squad. Lunn led the team with eight saves and had a 2.97 ERA, Bushor was second on the team with a .301 average and Sabol drove in 24 runs with 14 extra-base hits last year.
Â
DRAFTED: The Trojans had a trio of players selected in last year's MLB Draft. RHP Solomon Bates was taken in the eighth round (226 overall) by the San Francisco Giants, OF Lars Nootbaar was also selected in the eighth round by the St. Louis Cardinals (243 overall) and 1B Dillon Paulson was taken in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Â
DODGER STADIUM CLASSIC: USC will once again play in the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic this year, facing UCLA on March 10 in Chavez Ravine. Leading up to the final at Dodger Stadium, the Trojans will host Oklahoma State on March 8 and Michigan on March 9. Michigan and Oklahoma State will play at Dodger Stadium prior to the Trojans and Bruins.
Â
USC TO THE MLB: No other school can claim a larger number of alumni who have made it to the big leagues, with 113 Trojans having played in the MLB. The list includes three Trojans who have made it to the MLB Hall of Fame (Randy Johnson, Tom Seaver, Pat Gillick), nine Cy Young Awards (Johnson 5 times, Seaver 3 times, Barry Zito once), three Rookie of the Years (Seaver, Fred Lynn, Mark McGwire), one American League MVP (Lynn), one World Series MVP (Johnson), 29 World Series appearances and 67 All-Star Game appearances. In all, 333 Trojans have been selected in the MLB Draft.
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CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: The Trojans have an unparalleled history of championship success at the College World Series, winning 12 total national titles (1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1998). The 12 titles are double any other team in the country and were won in 21 CWS appearances by the Trojans. USC won five straight NCAA Championships from 1970-74, a feat no other program has accomplished.
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