USC Baseball Rallies to Split Doubleheader with No. 2 Stanford

Saturday, March 11

Los Angeles, Calif.

2:00 PM

USC

5-7-1, 0-1

Stanford

10-3, 1-0

Stanford

USC

Photo by: Katie Chin

USC Baseball Rallies to Split Doubleheader with No. 2 Stanford

March 11, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (G1)Box Score (G2)Highlights

LOS ANGELES – After dropping the early game 6-4, the USC baseball team rallied late in the nightcap to split the doubleheader with a 10-7 victory over No. 2 Stanford.

The Trojans scored six runs in the sixth and seventh inning to take the lead and got some clutch relief performances from Josh Blum and Garrett Clarke. USC moves to 6-7-1 overall and 1-1 in Pac-12 play, while the Cardinal move to 10-4 on the year and 1-1 in Pac-12 play.

In the early game, the Trojans faced a 4-2 deficit, but scored runs in the fourth and sixth to tie it up. Malcolm Moore hit a two-run single in the eight for Stanford, however, giving the Cardinal the victory.

The late game saw USC jump out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning, but Stanford rallied for five runs in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. The Trojans would load the bases with two outs in the sixth, when Connor Aoki looped a single into right center to clear the bases and give the home team a 7-5 lead.

After Braden Montgomery tied the game for Stanford in the seventh with a two-run homer, the visitors loaded the bases with just one out. Blum entered and proceeded to strike out the next two batters to end the threat.

USC wasted no time regaining the lead, scoring three in the bottom half of the inning. Ethan Hedges drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the inning and Aoki once again got in on the action with a run-scoring double. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek scored on a passed ball in between the two knocks.

With the Trojans in front, Blum set the side down in order in the eighth, striking out the last two batters. Clarke then entered to close things out in the ninth, tossing a quick 1-2-3 inning to pick up his first save of the season.

TOP PERFORMERS (BOTH GAMES)

Josh Blum: W, 3.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
Connor Aoki: 2-for-4, 5 RBI 2B

COMING UP
The Trojans and Stanford close out the series tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale will be broadcast live on Pac-12+ via USCTrojans.com. Links to follow are available on the baseball schedule page.