Saturday, March 15
Ann Arbor, Mich.
9:00 AM PT
USC
11-7, 2-3
4
at
3
Michigan
10-8, 2-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Southern California
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
4
9
0
Michigan
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
5
1
Photo by: Chris Mora
Eighth-Inning Rally Pushes USC Baseball Past Michigan, 4-3
March 15, 2025 | Baseball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The USC baseball team scored four runs in the eighth to overcome a 2-0 deficit and pick up a 4-3 victory over Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor.
Caden Aoki put up a gritty performance on the mound, tossing seven strong innings to allow the Trojan bats to find the late rally. USC takes the series after its win on Friday night, moving to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. Michigan falls to 10-8, 2-3. The Trojans will go for the sweep on Sunday at Ray Fisher Stadium.
USC's late rally was sparked by a pair of singles from Brayden Dowd and Ethan Hedges to lead off the top of the eighth. Adrian Lopez then doubled both players home with a line drive into the left field corner. Lopez scored the go-ahead run just two pitches later on a ball that bounced to the backstop. USC added what turned out to be the winning run on an error by the Michigan shortstop on a ball hit by Richard Tejeda that allowed Kade Higgins to score from second.
The rally came just in time to earn Aoki the victory after a brilliant performance on the mound by the righty. Aoki worked seven full innings, giving up just two runs on four hits and no walks. After allowing two runs in the third inning, Aoki proceeded to retire 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, giving up just one hit the rest of the way.
Mason Edwards took the mound to start the eighth and despite giving up a run, got a double-play ball to end the inning. Edwards picked up his first save of the year after a scoreless ninth, with the lefty getting a strikeout to end the game and strand a runner on first.
Higgins had his second three-hit game of the series on Saturday, with two doubles and a single, and Dowd posted two hits, with both players scoring runs. Lopez led the way with two RBI in the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
COMING UP
The Trojans and Wolverines will play the series finale at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on Sunday. That game will be broadcast live on B1G+.
Caden Aoki put up a gritty performance on the mound, tossing seven strong innings to allow the Trojan bats to find the late rally. USC takes the series after its win on Friday night, moving to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. Michigan falls to 10-8, 2-3. The Trojans will go for the sweep on Sunday at Ray Fisher Stadium.
USC's late rally was sparked by a pair of singles from Brayden Dowd and Ethan Hedges to lead off the top of the eighth. Adrian Lopez then doubled both players home with a line drive into the left field corner. Lopez scored the go-ahead run just two pitches later on a ball that bounced to the backstop. USC added what turned out to be the winning run on an error by the Michigan shortstop on a ball hit by Richard Tejeda that allowed Kade Higgins to score from second.
The rally came just in time to earn Aoki the victory after a brilliant performance on the mound by the righty. Aoki worked seven full innings, giving up just two runs on four hits and no walks. After allowing two runs in the third inning, Aoki proceeded to retire 12 of the next 13 batters he faced, giving up just one hit the rest of the way.
Mason Edwards took the mound to start the eighth and despite giving up a run, got a double-play ball to end the inning. Edwards picked up his first save of the year after a scoreless ninth, with the lefty getting a strikeout to end the game and strand a runner on first.
Higgins had his second three-hit game of the series on Saturday, with two doubles and a single, and Dowd posted two hits, with both players scoring runs. Lopez led the way with two RBI in the game.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Caden Aoki: W (2-1), 7.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 0BB, 2K
- Adrian Lopez: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, R, 2B
- Kade Higgins: 3-for-4, R, 2 2B
- Brayden Dowd: 2-for-4, R
COMING UP
The Trojans and Wolverines will play the series finale at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on Sunday. That game will be broadcast live on B1G+.
Hear from Caden Aoki after his 7 strong innings led the Trojans to victory on Saturday afternoon ✌️#FightOn x @Cadenaoki pic.twitter.com/Z6wHoyp0ut
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 15, 2025
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Aoki, Caden (2-1)
L: Will Rogers (0-1)
S: Edwards, Mason (1)
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Higgins, Kade 2 ; Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1
RBI: Lopez, Adrian 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Higgins, Kade 1
HBP: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 1
Batting:
2B: Benjamin Casillas 1 ; Mitch Voit 2
HR: Colby Turner 1
RBI: Mitch Voit 1 ; Jeter Ybarra 1 ; Colby Turner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benjamin Casillas 2 ; Colby Turner 1
HBP: Mitch Voit 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF/RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballBaseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs OSU, NCAA Regional Round)
Monday, June 02
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs SMC, NCAA Regional Round)
Saturday, May 31
Baseball: Postgame Press Conference (USC vs TCU, NCAA Regional Opener)
Friday, May 30
Baseball - USC 10, Washington 4: Highlights (05/17/25)
Saturday, May 17
