USC Baseball Comes Back for Sweep of George Washington

Sunday, February 16

Irvine, Calif.

1:00 PM

USC

3-0

George Washington

0-3

George Washington

USC

Photo by: John McGillen

USC Baseball Comes Back for Sweep of George Washington

February 16, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Highlights

IRVINE, Calif. – Brayden Dowd hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth and the Trojan bullpen tossed five scoreless innings to end the game as the USC baseball team finished off a sweep of George Washington on Sunday afternoon at Great Park with a 7-5 victory.

The Trojans gave up five runs in the top of the fourth inning, but came back with three in bottom half of the frame and then scored four in the sixth to go ahead for good. USC starts the season 3-0 after completing the sweep on Sunday.

Ethan Hedges picked up his second save in as many games to finish the game off as four USC relievers combined to hold the Revolutionaries scoreless while the bats made a comeback. Garren Rizzo picked up the win with 2.2 innings of relief, giving up just two hits and no runs. Tee Southisene threw a scoreless seventh inning and Brodie Purcell got out of a jam in the eighth with three strikeouts to keep USC in front. Hedges set the side down in order in the ninth, striking out a pair.

George Washington scored two runs on a single with one out in the fourth and then got their third run on a throwing error by USC. Cristino Tufano capped the inning with a two-run double to put the visitors up 5-0.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Hedges drove in a run with a single and then Kade Higgins hit a sac fly and John Elliott grounded home a run to make it 5-3.

Kevin Takeuchi got the rally going in the sixth with an RBI single after Elliott had a one-out single and Augie Lopez recorded a pinch-hit walk. Dowd came up next and with a pair of runners on, drove a high fly ball over the right field fence to put the Trojans in front for good.

TOP PERFORMERS

Brayden Dowd: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, R, 3-R HR, 2B, BB
Kevin Takeuchi: 2-for-5, RBI, R, 2B
Ethan Hedges: 1-for-4, RBI, R / S, 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 3K
Garren Rizzo: W, 2.2 IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 2K

COMING UP
USC plays a pair of midweek contests this week, heading to UC Irvine on Tuesday and then hosting CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday at LMU. The Trojans will travel to Houston to face Rice next weekend.

Hear from @turntwo17 after an opening weekend sweep for the Trojans! ✌️🧹#FightOn pic.twitter.com/aYG3rZX4MP
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) February 17, 2025