No. 13 USC Baseball Scores Late to Take Down San Diego State, 7-4

Tuesday, March 17

Los Angeles, Calif.

6:30 p.m. PT

USC

20-1

San Diego State

11-10

San Diego State

USC

Photo by: John McGillen

No. 13 USC Baseball Scores Late to Take Down San Diego State, 7-4

March 17, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Highlights Box Score (PDF)

LOS ANGELES – The No. 13 USC baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and take down San Diego State, 7-4, at Dedeaux Field on Tuesday night.

The victory moves the Trojans to 20-1 on the season, while the Aztecs fall to 11-10.

Isaac Cadena drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs to push across the go-ahead run in the eighth and then Abbrie Covarrubias singled through the right side to score two more and make it a three-run USC lead. The Trojans drew four walks and a hit-by-pitch in the eighth.

Five different USC pitchers combined on the mound to hold San Deigo State to four runs on the night, with Diego Velazquez getting the win as the pitcher of record in the eighth.

Velazquez tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, giving up no hits and no walks while striking out three batters. Velazquez entered with runners on second and third and no outs in the seventh, getting a fly out and strikeout to end the inning and hold the Aztecs to just two runs in the frame.

After Velazquez set the side down in order in the eighth and the Trojan bats rallied in the bottom half of the inning, Adam Troy tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his seventh save of the season.

San Diego State struck first in the game, scoring twice in the top of the first to take an early lead. USC came right back with four runs in the bottom of the first, getting a three-run homer from Kevin Takeuchi and an RBI-double from Augie Lopez. Takeuchi also worked a walk to lead off the eighth.

TOP PERFORMERS

Diego Velazquez: W, 1.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
Adam Troy: S, 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, BB
Kevin Takeuchi: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2R, 3-R HR, BB

COMING UP
USC hosts CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday and then Big Ten play resumes on Friday as Washington comes to Dedeaux Field for a three-game set. All USC home games will be broadcast on B1G+.

Hear from @KevinTakeuchi8 after his 3 RBI and 2 runs helped lead to a Trojan W on Tuesday night ✌️#FightOn x @YETICoolers pic.twitter.com/9mOCBoO3GT
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) March 18, 2026