USC Baseball Splits Doubleheader to Take Series at Cal

Saturday, March 18

Berkeley, Calif.

2:05 PM

USC

9-8-1, 3-2

California

9-7, 1-4

USC

California

Photo by: Katie Chin/USC Athletics

USC Baseball Splits Doubleheader to Take Series at Cal

March 18, 2023 | Baseball

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

BERKELEY, Calif. – The USC Baseball team won the nightcap of a doubleheader at Cal on Saturday night, taking the finale 6-3 after dropping the opener 8-7 in 10 innings.

The split comes on the heels of an opening game win and gives the Trojans their second straight series win to start conference play. USC moves to 10-8-1 overall and 4-2 in Pac-12 play. Cal Moves to 9-8 overall and 1-4 in conference action.

The late game saw Cal jump out to a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth, but the Trojans came back and scored all six of their runs over the next three innings. Connor Aoki hit a two-run shot to tie it in the fifth and then Ryan Jackson's solo-homer in the sixth put USC ahead.

Three Trojan bullpen arms combined to hold Cal scoreless over the final six innings. Fisher Johnson threw 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and no walks. Caden Aoki, making his first appearance since Feb. 25th, retired all six batters he faced in his 2.0 hitless innings, striking out one. Kyle Wisch picked up the save with a scoreless ninth, working around a two-out hit with three strikeouts.

The Trojans jumped out to an early lead in the opening game, 3-0 lead through two innings, but Cal was able to come back and score four in the fifth to grab the advantage. USC wasn't done yet, getting two runs in the seventh to cut it to a 7-5 Cal lead, and then Carson Wells hit a game-tying two-run shot in the eighth. The game went to the 10th, but Caleb Lomavita hit a solo-homer to walk it off for the home team.

TOP PERFORMERS (BOTH GAMES)

Ryan Jackson: 4-for-9, GW HR, RBI, 3R
Carson Wells: 3-for-7, 3 RBI, 2R, HR
Connor Aoki: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, R, 2-R HR
Fisher Johnson: W, 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB
Caden Aoki: 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K

COMING UP
The Trojans return to Los Angeles for a four-game homestand next week, hosting Seattle on Wednesday and then Washington State for a three-game series next weekend. All four games will be streamed live via Pac-12+ with links to follow on the baseball schedule page.

Hear from @turntwo17 as well, after his Trojans are 4-2 to start Pac-12 play ✌️ #FightOn pic.twitter.com/CJL6OH2K94
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 19, 2023