USC
11-17, 4-6
Arizona State
25-3, 8-2
Trojans Take Down No. 7 Arizona State, 10-6
April 05, 2019 | Baseball, Features
Acosta had four hits and drove in five runs, while Lunn held the country's most potent offense to three runs in 6.1 innings of work. USC improves to 11-17 on the year and 4-6 in Pac-12 play, while the Sun Devils fall to 25-3 overall and 8-2 in conference action.
The Trojans' centerfielder went to work early, as Acosta drove in a run on a single in the first innings and then brought home two more with another single in the third to put USC up 3-0. The Sun Devils would answer with a run in the top of the fourth, but USC came right back with three in the bottom half of the inning. Brandon Perez tripled home a run in the fourth, followed by an RBI groundout from Blake Sabol and another run-scoring single from Acosta.
Arizona State cut it to a 6-3 game with two runs in the sixth inning, but USC again had an answer, scoring three runs thanks to an ASU error, an RBI double from Acosta and a delayed-double steal where Acosta took home. Perez would tack on a solo-shot to right in the seventh to make it 10-3. The Sun Devils got a three-run homer from Trevor Hauver in the ninth, but Austin Manning settled in and struck out last year's NCAA home run champ Spencer Torkelson, and to the current NCAA home run leader Hunter Bishop to fly out to end the game.
Lunn retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced in the game and didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning. He would strand runners on base in the fourth and sixth. Carson Lambert entered with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh and proceeded to strike out both Torkelson and Bishop. Manning would toss a scoreless eighth before giving up the homer in the ninth.
Acosta also got himself on the highlight reel in the field, robbing Torkelson of a homer in centerfield with a leaping catch. The Trojans had 14 hits in the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Matthew Acosta had a career-high four hits and drove in a career-high five runs in the game. He had one stolen base and a run scored.
- Brandon Perez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a triple and a homer, as well as two runs scored.
- Blake Sabol went 3-for-4 with an RBI, stolen base and three runs scored.
- Connor Lunn tossed 6.1 innings, scattering five hit and giving up three earned runs.
- Carson Lambert struck out the only two batters he faced to strand the bases loaded in the seventh.
COMING UP
The Trojans continue their series with a 2 p.m. game against ASU on Saturday and then finish things off on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Hear from @MatthewAcostaMA after his scorching day at the plate and in the field.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/Q1EoB8O8By
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) April 6, 2019
Also hear from Head Coach @DanHubbs40 after another complete victory for the Trojans in a series opener.#FightOn pic.twitter.com/lslWIJF5xa
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) April 6, 2019
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Acker, Charles (4-1)
L: Marsh,Alec (7-1)
Batting:
2B: Torkelson,Spencer 1 ; Aldrete,Carter 1
HR: Hauver,Trevor 1
RBI: Hauver,Trevor 3 ; Williams,Alika 1 ; Lin,Lyle 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hauver,Trevor 1 ; Torkelson,Spencer 1 ; Williams,Alika 1 ; Aldrete,Carter 1 ; Denson,Myles 1 ; Swift,Drew 1
CS: Bishop,Hunter 1
PO: Aldrete,Carter 1
Batting:
2B: Beller, John 1 ; Owens, Clay 1
3B: Olmstead, Johnny 1
HR: Olmstead, Johnny 1
RBI: Rodriguez, Miko 1 ; Beller, John 5 ; Olmstead, Johnny 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rodriguez, Miko 3 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 2 ; Beller, John 1 ; Owens, Clay 1 ; Olmstead, Johnny 2 ; Shockey, Brady 1
SB: Rodriguez, Miko 2 ; O'Guinn, Jamal 1 ; Ramirez, Ben 1 ; Shockey, Brady 1
