Trojan Arms Lead USC to 1-0 Win at Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. – Isaac Esqueda gave the USC baseball team six scoreless innings and the Trojans made a third-inning sacrifice fly hold up as the winning run in a 1-0 win over Cal on Saturday afternoon in the Bay Area.

USC moves to 7-10 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 play after taking yesterday's conference opener 9-5. The Golden Bears fall to 8-8 overall and 0-2 Pac-12.

Esqueda gave up just two hits on the day, but got himself into trouble in the sixth when he walked two straight batters in front of one of the best bats in the country, Andrew Vaughn. With no outs, the Trojan lefty got Vaughn to pop up to left field, then picked off a runner at first who was trying to steal to leave the Bears with a runner on third and two outs. Esqueda would strike the next batter out to end the inning and preserve a 1-0 lead.

Carson Lambert came in to relieve Esqueda at the start of the seventh and proceeded to give up just one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings of work. Chris Clarke entered to pitch a perfect ninth, getting three straight fly balls on seven pitches. It was the second straight day that Clarke picked up the save.

USC put up its lone run in the third inning after Ben Ramirez led the frame off with a double down the left field line, was moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Pritchard and then brought home on a sacrifice fly to left by Blake Sabol.

TOP PERFORMERS

Isaac Esqueda gave up just two hits and three walks over 6.0 scoreless innings. He struck out four batters and stranded three baserunners.
Carson Lambert tossed 2.0 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and no walks.
Chris Clarke threw a scoreless bottom of the ninth, getting three fly balls on seven pitches for his second save of the year.
Ben Ramirez was 1-for-3 with a double, walk and run scored.
Tyler Lozano was 1-for-2 with a walk.

COMING UP
The Trojans go for the sweep at Cal on Sunday at 1 p.m. USC then returns home to host Long Beach State on Tuesday, before heading up to Washington next weekend for more Pac-12 action.

"I thought the story of the game was Isaac Esqueda. He showed a lot of heart today."

-@DanHubbs40 on the performance of @ielefty29 and the Trojans today.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/kvGgcvTf3S
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 17, 2019

Hear from @topher_clarke after his second consecutive save.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/opukIQSzZ9
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 17, 2019

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