USC Baseball Completes Sweep of Washington State with 6-3 Win

Sunday, March 26

Los Angeles, Calif.

1:00 PM

USC

14-8-1, 7-2

Washington State

14-9, 3-6

Washington St

USC

Photo by: John McGillen

USC Baseball Completes Sweep of Washington State with 6-3 Win

March 26, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA --The USC baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Washington State on Sunday afternoon at Dedeaux Field, taking down the Cougars, 6-3, to move to 7-2 in Pac-12 play.

Freshman Eric Hammond (1-1) started on the mound and picked up the win for USC (14-8-1, 7-2). The right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out two. Senior Garrett Clarke also made an impact on the mound for the Trojans, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits.

Freshman Bryce Grudzielanek led the way offensively for the Trojans, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a double, a triple and two RBI. Senior Connor Clift put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Austin Overn also contributed, going 2-for-4 for USC with an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Trojans got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Grudzielanek came across to score the lone run of the inning for USC and get them on the board.

The Cougars then tied the ballgame at one before the Trojans came back to reclaim their advantage in the second inning. USC brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Clift's single, which brought the Trojans lead to 3-1.

Washington State narrowed USC's lead to 3-2 before the Trojans stretched the advantage to 5-2 in the fifth inning. The Trojans drove two runs across on a two-run double from Grudzielanek that scored Clift and Overn.

The Cougars gained ground, closing the gap to 5-3 until USC added some insurance in the seventh. The Trojans scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Overn, bringing the score to 6-3 in favor of USC. The score remained 6-3 for the rest of the game, as the Trojans held on for the win.

GAME NOTES
» The Trojans power output was led by Grudzielanek, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» USC's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed two runs across.
» USC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Trojans had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Trojans out-hit the Cougars at an 11-8 clip.
» USC went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» USC pitchers faced 36 Washington State hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out three.
» Grudzielanek led the Trojans at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBI.
» Washington State was led offensively by junior Kyle Russell, who went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Junior Connor Wilford led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing 1.2 shutout innings.

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