University Southern California Trojans
Friday, April 4
Irvine, Calif.
6:30 PM
USC
18-11, 7-6
5
vs
3
Ohio State
8-18, 2-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| USC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Photo by: Katie Chin
USC Baseball Holds on for 5-3 Win Over Ohio State
April 04, 2025 | Baseball
IRVINE, Calif. – The USC baseball team scored five early runs and rode the arms of Caden Hunter and Brodie Purcell the rest of the way as the Trojans won the series opener against Ohio State, 5-3, on Friday night at Great Park.
Hunter tossed 5.1 innings to pick up the win and Purcell threw the final 3.2 innings to earn the save. USC moves to 18-11 overall on the season and 7-6 in Big Ten play with the win. Ohio State falls to 8-18, 2-8.
The Trojans scored their five runs in the first inning on two hits, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and a wild pitch. Kevin Takeuchi drove in a pair with a double and Abbrie Covarrubias plated one run with a single.
The Buckeyes would score two runs in the fourth inning on a single by Mason Eckelman, but Hunter got a flyout to end the threat and strand the runner. Ohio State added its third run on a wild pitch in the fifth, but Hunter again got a fly ball to end the inning and strand two runners.
The visitors threatened in the sixth, getting back-to-back hits to put runners on the corners with one out. Purcell took over on the mound and four pitches later got an inning-ending double-play ground ball to second.
Purcell would toss three scoreless innings to bring it home from there, giving up one hit and no walks, while striking out a pair. The lone hit allowed actually came on the final play of the game as Purcell raced to cover first on a grounder to the right side but dropped the ball as he and the runner arrived at the same time. Covarrubias would pick the ball up and as the runner went back to the bag, the Buckeye player stepped on the safety base and was tagged out. Upon review the call was upheld.
TOP PERFORMERS
COMING UP
The Trojans and Buckeyes are back at it on Saturday at 2 p.m. and then wrap things up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on B1G+.
Hunter tossed 5.1 innings to pick up the win and Purcell threw the final 3.2 innings to earn the save. USC moves to 18-11 overall on the season and 7-6 in Big Ten play with the win. Ohio State falls to 8-18, 2-8.
The Trojans scored their five runs in the first inning on two hits, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and a wild pitch. Kevin Takeuchi drove in a pair with a double and Abbrie Covarrubias plated one run with a single.
The Buckeyes would score two runs in the fourth inning on a single by Mason Eckelman, but Hunter got a flyout to end the threat and strand the runner. Ohio State added its third run on a wild pitch in the fifth, but Hunter again got a fly ball to end the inning and strand two runners.
The visitors threatened in the sixth, getting back-to-back hits to put runners on the corners with one out. Purcell took over on the mound and four pitches later got an inning-ending double-play ground ball to second.
Purcell would toss three scoreless innings to bring it home from there, giving up one hit and no walks, while striking out a pair. The lone hit allowed actually came on the final play of the game as Purcell raced to cover first on a grounder to the right side but dropped the ball as he and the runner arrived at the same time. Covarrubias would pick the ball up and as the runner went back to the bag, the Buckeye player stepped on the safety base and was tagged out. Upon review the call was upheld.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Brodie Purcell: S, 3.2 IP, H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
- Caden Hunter: W, 5.1 IP, 6H, 3R, 2BB, 7K
- Kevin Takeuchi: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, R, 2B, BB
- Abbrie Covarrubias: 1-for-4, RBI
COMING UP
The Trojans and Buckeyes are back at it on Saturday at 2 p.m. and then wrap things up on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/OF
/ BaseballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: Hunter, Caden (6-1)
L: Erdmann, Drew (0-3)
S: Purcell, Brodie (3)
Batting:
2B: Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Eckelman, Mason 1
RBI: Eckelman, Mason 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Ellis, Lee 1 ; Pettorini, Tyler 1 ; Giamarusti, Nick 1
SB: Giamarusti, Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Takeuchi, Kevin 1
RBI: Martinez, Maximo 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 2 ; Covarrubias, Abbrie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dowd, Brayden 1 ; Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Basseer, Jack 1 ; Martinez, Maximo 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
SB: Dowd, Brayden 1
CS: Takeuchi, Kevin 1
HBP: Martin-Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Basseer, Jack 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
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