No. 23 USC Baseball Hosts Purdue, Heads to UC Irvine

Friday, April 24

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 p.m. PT

USC

Purdue

Adrian Lopez gives Mason Edwards a high five while walking out onto Dedeaux Field.

Photo by: Kevin Kim

No. 23 USC Baseball Hosts Purdue, Heads to UC Irvine

April 23, 2026 | Baseball

Game Notes (PDF)

THIS WEEK: The No. 23 USC baseball team returns home to continue Big Ten play, hosting Purdue in a three-game series beginning on Friday. The Trojans will then be on the road for a midweek matchup at UC Irvine on Tuesday.

GAME SCHEDULE:
Friday - USC vs. Purdue (Dedeaux Field), April 24, 7 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Saturday - USC vs. Purdue (Dedeaux Field), April 25, 2 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Sunday - USC vs. Purdue (Dedeaux Field), April 26, 1 p.m. PT (B1G+)
Tuesday - USC vs. UC Irvine (Cicerone Field), April 28, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN+)

BROADCAST INFO: All games against Purdue will be broadcast on B1G+. The matchup at UC Irvine will be broadcast on ESPN+. Links to the broadcasts are available on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.

FOLLOW: Fans can also follow the action through live stats on USCTrojans.com. Live, in-game updates will be available for all games from @USC_Baseball on X as well.

GET SOCIAL: Follow USC Baseball on social media to get updates on everything going on with the team this season. The Trojans can be followed at @USC_Baseball on X, at @sctrojans_baseball on Instagram and USC Trojans Baseball on Facebook.

2026 HOME GAMES: After two seasons playing the majority of its home games at Great Park in Irvine, USC returns home to the new Dedeaux Field. The project, which features a brand-new stadium, clubhouse, training facility and offices for the program. is still ongoing and will be completed after the conclusion of the 2026 season. Despite certain elements of the stadium still being under construction, USC will welcome fans into Dedeaux Field this season, with all home games being free and open to the public. Temporary concessions and restrooms will be available all season long. Seating will be first come first serve. For more information visit USCTrojans.com/baseballgameday.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS PURDUE: This will be the first ever meeting between the Boilermakers and Trojans. With USC moving into the Big Ten last season, the Trojans will open their all-time series against Purdue on Friday.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS UCI: The Trojans hold a 38-41 all-time record against the Anteaters dating back to 1970. The two programs met earlier this season, with the Trojans securing a 6-4 comeback win at home.

MIDWEEK WIN AT CSUF: The Trojans totaled nine runs on 17 hits in a 9-2 win at Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night, marking their second-highest hit total of the season. Diego Velsquez had a strong start on the mound, allowing just one hit and no runs. Chase Herrell added 2.0 scoreless innings on the mound, while Sax Matson, Adam Troy and Grant Govel each tossed scoreless frames to close it out. USC limited the Titans to six hits, did not commit an error, and issued just two walks.

HOT START: The Trojans' 19-0 start to the season marked the best in program history and tied the USC record for the longest winning streak in program history, set in 1955. The Trojans were the final unbeaten team in the country before suffering their first loss of the season in the second game of a doubleheader at Northwestern. USC was also the first team to 20 wins in the country and was one of just four teams to hit 30 wins at the time. The Trojans' 30-7 record marked the fastest a USC team has gotten to 30 wins in a season since 1978 and this year's squad is one of just three Trojan teams to ever start a season 30-7, joining the 1978 and 1961 teams.

PITCHING DOMINANCE: The Trojan pitching staff have been dominant throughout the season, posting the No. 2 shutouts (6), No. 7 Hits/9 (7.20), No. 14 WHIP (1.26), and No. 18 ERA (3.91) in the country.

IN THE RANKINGS:

NCBWA - No. 23
Perfect Game - No. 24
USA Today Coaches Poll - No. 23
Baseball America - No. 21
D1Baseball - No. 23
NCAA RPI - No. 15

MIDSEASON WATCHLISTS/AWARDS:

Mason Edwards: Golden Spikes watch list, D1Baseball/Baseball America/Perfect Game Midseason Pitcher of the Year, D1Baseball Midseason All-America first team, NCBWA National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist
Grant Govel: Golden Spikes watch list, Baseball American Midseason Pitcher of the Year watch list
Andy Stankiewicz - Perfect Game Midseason Coach of the Year
Adam Troy - NCBWA Stopper of the Year semifinalist

2026 PLAYER NOTES:
HITTERS

Abbrie Covarrubias has been the catalyst to the Trojan offense this season in the leadoff spot with 33 runs scored and leading with 15 stolen bases. Covarrubias is slashing .266/.381/.374, has 19 RBI and is 2nd on the team with 22 walks.
Adrian Lopez has served as a consistent run producer in the middle of the USC order, currently sitting 2nd on the team in runs scored (36) and 3rd in RBI (28). Lopez is slashing .302/.391/.490, with 16 extra-base hits, including 9 doubles, 2 triples and 5 homers.
Augie Lopez has proven to be productive in the designated hitter spot for the Trojans. He's currently leading the team with 13 home runs, a .661 slugging percentage, and is second on the team with 35 RBIs. Lopez had 9 RBI, 5 runs, and 3 home runs in the series against Maryland.
Andrew Lamb has emerged as one of the best power bats in the USC lineup, currently 2nd on the team with 7 home runs. Lamb homered in three straight games from 3/10-13 and had a three-run homer against Washington. His .515 slugging percentage is 3rd on the team.
Jack Basseer is 3rd on the squad with 5 long balls and 1st on the team with a .333 batting average. He has driven in 19 runs and scored 21, making him second on the team with a .602 slugging percentage. Basseer had a walk-off, two-run shot against CSU Bakersfield on 3/18.
Kevin Takeuchi has been the Trojans' offensive leader all season. He leads the team in hits (49) and RBIs (39), 2nd on the team in batting average (.312), and tied for 3rd for in walks (20). Takeuchi also has 9 stolen bases on 10 attempts, has scored 39 runs and has a team-high 11 doubles and 3 triples.
Maximo Martinez broke into the lineup in the third week of the season and has since been third in the club with a .396 OBP. He had a career game against Cal Poly on 04/28, going 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, three doubles, and a grand slam.
Maddox Riske had himself a day in the third game of the Cal Poly series, going 5-for-6 with 2 RBI and 2 runs, becoming the first Trojan to record five hits in a game since 2022.
Richard Tejeda has been a regular behind the dish for USC this season. At Northwestern, Tejeda went 1-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and a two-run home run.

PITCHERS

Andrew Johnson has emerged as one of the most effective pitchers as USC's Sunday starter, posting a 4.53 ERA and 3-2 record in 10 starts and 49.2 total innings.
Adam Troy is 2nd the nation with 10 saves this season and is 16th in the NCAA with 21 appearances on the mound. Troy owns a 3.97 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched, striking out 27.
Diego Velazquez came to USC as both an infielder and pitcher, but has seen the most time on the mound, making 9 appearances with 1 start. The freshman has given up just 11 hits, 5 walks, and striking out 17 in 12.2 innings.
Gavin Lauridsen has been a key arm in high-leverage relief situations this year, posting a 4.75 ERA in 18 appearances and 30.1 innings pitched. Lauridsen earned B1G Freshman of the Week honors after 3.0 scoreless innings against Washington on March 20.
Grant Govel has been like a second ace as USC's Saturday starter. He's sitting 4th in the Big Ten with a 3.05 ERA in 59.0 innings pitched, striking out 60 batters while walking just 8. His 0.88 WHIP leads the Big Ten and is 6th the nation. Govel was named both National and Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after 6.0 hitless innings against Pepperdine on opening weekend and Big Ten POTW after 7.0 scoreless frames against Northwestern.
Mason Edwards has established himself as one of the top arms in the country this season, posting a 1.49 ERA through 10 starts and 60.1 innings pitched. His ERA ranks 3rd nationally, his hits allowed per nine innings ranks 4th in the NCAA, his 107 strikeouts rank 1st in the country and in the conference, and his 0.93 WHIP is 2nd in the Big Ten. The junior left-hander also put together a scoreless streak of 29.2 consecutive innings. Edwards has been named B1G Pitcher of the Week three times this season, Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week once, and Perfect Game Midseason Pitcher of the Year.
Sax Matson has established himself as a key relief pitcher for the Trojans. This season, he leads the team and the NCAA with 26 appearances on the mound, posting a 4.66 ERA.