USC
24-14
Gonzaga
18-16
USC Baseball Evens Series With 9-5 Win Over Gonzaga
April 18, 2025 | Baseball
The Trojans and Zags traded the lead six times on the night, with USC going ahead for good with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Trojans improve to 24-14 overall with the win, while Gonzaga falls to 19-15.
Adrian Lopez gave USC the lead for good with an RBI double in the seventh, bringing home Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek who led the inning off with a double down the line. Kevin Takeuchi doubled later in the inning to score two more runs and Brayden Dowd singled through the right side to plate the fourth run of the inning for the Trojans.
Lopez had three hits in the game and three RBI, as he also hit a two-run homer in the first. Takeuchi homered in the sixth, giving him a three-RBI day as well.
Lopez's homer in the first erased an early 1-0 deficit and Abbrie Covarrubias doubled in a run in the first and later singled home a run in the third to make it 4-1 in favor of USC.
Gonzaga scored three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game, however. Takeuchi's solo-shot in the sixth put the Trojans back in front, but the visiting Zags got an RBI double from Mikey Bell in the top of the seventh to tie it back up.
Caden Aoki got the start and struck out nine batters, while walking none in his 6.0 innings of work. He took a no-decision, however, after Gonzaga tied it late. Andrew Johnson tossed the final 3.0 innings, picking up the win. After giving up the tying run in the seventh, Johnson got a double-play to end the inning. He would set the side down in order in the eighth and ninth innings to finish things off.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Kevin Takeuchi: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2R, HR, 2B, HBP
- Adrian Lopez: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, 3R, 2 2B, HR
- Abbrie Covarrubias: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B
- Andrew Johnson: W, 3.0 IP, 3H, R, BB, 2K
COMING UP
USC and Gonzaga wrap things up on Saturday at 1 p.m. on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Andrew (1-0)
L: Michael Cunneely (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Ty Yukumoto 1 ; Mikey Bell 1 ; Luca DiPaolo 1
RBI: Ty Yukumoto 1 ; Gage Mestas 1 ; Mikey Bell 2 ; Luca DiPaolo 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ty Yukumoto 3 ; Jacob Wrubleski 1 ; Luca DiPaolo 1
HBP: Ty Yukumoto 1
Batting:
2B: Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 2 ; Martinez, Maximo 1 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
HR: Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
RBI: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 3 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 2 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 2 ; Lopez, Adrian 3 ; Martinez, Maximo 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 2
SB: Covarrubias, Abbrie 1
HBP: Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Higgins, Kade 1
