Friday, February 21
Houston, Texas
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Photo by: Chris Mora
USC Baseball Wins 11-Inning Thriller at Rice, 7-4
February 21, 2025 | Baseball
HOUSTON, Texas – In a game were the lead either changed hands or the score was tied seven times, the USC baseball team scored four runs in extra innings to beat the Rice Owls 7-4 in an 11-inning thriller.
Jack Basseer had the game-winning hit with a two-run pinch hit single in the 11th as USC battled back twice after Rice tied the game in the ninth and 10th innings. The win moves the Trojans to 6-0 on the season, while Rice falls to 1-4. The 6-0 start is USC's best since 2015.
The Trojans took a 3-2 lead into the ninth, but the Owls tied it with a sacrifice fly to force extra innings. Abbrie Covarrubias drove in his second run of the day to put USC back in front in the 10th, but a homer by Gunnet Carlson in the bottom half of the inning again tied it for the home team.
Brayden Dowd led the 11th off with a walk and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek followed with a single to put a pair on for the Trojans. Dowd was caught at home in a rundown on a fielder's choice, but the runners advanced to second and third. Kade Higgins was intentionally walked to bring up Basseer who came in to pinch hit, and he promptly singled up the middle to score two runs. Dean Carpentier had a swinging bunt that scored another run and made it 7-4.
There was no more magic left for the Owls as Dylan Osborne retired the side in order, striking out two batters and getting a groundout to end it.
Caden Hunter got the start and worked into the fifth inning, leaving with the score tied 1-1. Hunter gave up a run in the second and with one out Rice had the bases loaded and threatened to tack on more, but Hunter got a popup and then a strikeout to escape the jam. He struck out eight batters on the day.
Jackson Baker relieved Hunter with two on and two outs in the fifth, getting a groundout to strand a pair of runners. Mason Edwards stranded a runner in scoring position in the sixth with back-to-back strikeouts and then Brodie Purcell got a popup to end the eighth with runners on the corners.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Martin-Grudzielanek tied the game with an infield single in the fifth, and then USC scored two runs in the sixth to take the lead. Covarrubias hit a liner to second with the infield in that was knocked down, but allowed Carpentier to score. After Covarrubias advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error, Kevin Takeuchi brought him home with a groundout.
Covarrubias' three hits and two RBI were both season highs for the sophomore as he led the charge offensively. Basseer's hit and two RBI were both the first for him as a Trojan. USC had 13 hits in the game, getting knocks from eight different players. The Trojan pitching staff struck out a total of 17 batters and allowed three earned runs.
TOP PERFORMERS
COMING UP
USC and Rice resume the series on Saturday at 12 pm PT/2 pm CT and then wrap things up on Sunday at 11 am PT/1 pm CT. Both games at Rice will be on ESPN+.
Jack Basseer had the game-winning hit with a two-run pinch hit single in the 11th as USC battled back twice after Rice tied the game in the ninth and 10th innings. The win moves the Trojans to 6-0 on the season, while Rice falls to 1-4. The 6-0 start is USC's best since 2015.
The Trojans took a 3-2 lead into the ninth, but the Owls tied it with a sacrifice fly to force extra innings. Abbrie Covarrubias drove in his second run of the day to put USC back in front in the 10th, but a homer by Gunnet Carlson in the bottom half of the inning again tied it for the home team.
Brayden Dowd led the 11th off with a walk and Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek followed with a single to put a pair on for the Trojans. Dowd was caught at home in a rundown on a fielder's choice, but the runners advanced to second and third. Kade Higgins was intentionally walked to bring up Basseer who came in to pinch hit, and he promptly singled up the middle to score two runs. Dean Carpentier had a swinging bunt that scored another run and made it 7-4.
There was no more magic left for the Owls as Dylan Osborne retired the side in order, striking out two batters and getting a groundout to end it.
Caden Hunter got the start and worked into the fifth inning, leaving with the score tied 1-1. Hunter gave up a run in the second and with one out Rice had the bases loaded and threatened to tack on more, but Hunter got a popup and then a strikeout to escape the jam. He struck out eight batters on the day.
Jackson Baker relieved Hunter with two on and two outs in the fifth, getting a groundout to strand a pair of runners. Mason Edwards stranded a runner in scoring position in the sixth with back-to-back strikeouts and then Brodie Purcell got a popup to end the eighth with runners on the corners.
After falling behind 1-0 early, Martin-Grudzielanek tied the game with an infield single in the fifth, and then USC scored two runs in the sixth to take the lead. Covarrubias hit a liner to second with the infield in that was knocked down, but allowed Carpentier to score. After Covarrubias advanced to third on a stolen base and throwing error, Kevin Takeuchi brought him home with a groundout.
Covarrubias' three hits and two RBI were both season highs for the sophomore as he led the charge offensively. Basseer's hit and two RBI were both the first for him as a Trojan. USC had 13 hits in the game, getting knocks from eight different players. The Trojan pitching staff struck out a total of 17 batters and allowed three earned runs.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Abbrie Covarrubias: 3-for-6, 2 RBI, 2R
- Dean Carpentier: 2-for-4, RBI, 2R, BB, 2B
- Jack Basseer: 1-for-1, 2 RBI
- Caden Hunter: 4.2 IP, 4H, ER, 3BB, 8K
COMING UP
USC and Rice resume the series on Saturday at 12 pm PT/2 pm CT and then wrap things up on Sunday at 11 am PT/1 pm CT. Both games at Rice will be on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rizzo, Garren (3-0)
L: Reed Gallant (0-1)
S: Osborne, Dylan (1)
Batting:
2B: Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Carpentier, Dean 1
3B: Hedges, Ethan 1
RBI: Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Basseer, Jack 2 ; Carpentier, Dean 1 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 2
SH: Elliott, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Higgins, Kade 1 ; Carpentier, Dean 2 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 2
SB: Carpentier, Dean 1 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 1
HBP: Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Carpentier, Dean 1
Batting:
HR: Gunnet Carlson 1
RBI: Landon West 1 ; Gunnet Carlson 1 ; Treyton Rank 2
SH: Luke Smith 1
SF: Landon West 1 ; Treyton Rank 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Colin Robson 1 ; Barrett Eldridge 1 ; Trey Duffield 1 ; Gunnet Carlson 1
CS: Treyton Rank 1
HBP: Trey Duffield 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
6
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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OF
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LHP
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OF
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LHP
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OF/LHP
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RHP
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