University Southern California Trojans
Friday, June 5
Chapel Hill, N.C.
12:00 p.m. PT
USC
48-16
9
at
5
North Carolina
48-12-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: Chris Mora
USC Baseball Rallies to Take Opening Game of NCAA Super Regional at North Carolina, 9-5
June 05, 2026 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The USC baseball team won the opening game of the Super Regional at North Carolina on Friday afternoon, beating the Tar Heels 9-5 to move one win away from a trip to Omaha.
Dean Capentier hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the sixth inning as USC rallied for eight runs in the sixth and seventh to take a late four run lead.
After the first two batters of the sixth reached, Kevin Takeuchi started the late rally with a bloop single down the left field line that scored Adrian Lopez. The next two batters were retired before Andrew Lamb worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Carpentier jumped all over the second pitch he saw, sending it out to left to give USC a 6-5 lead.
The Trojans would manufacture three runs in the seventh on a groundout, fielder's choice and sacrifice bunt to go up 9-5. Andrew Lamb gave USC its first run of the game in the third with a solo-homer.
Chase Herrell had a clutch relief outing to keep USC within striking distance after entering the game in the fourth and holding North Carolina to one run in 2.0 innings of work. He would pick up the win as the pitcher of record when the Trojans scored five in the sixth.
Ben Cushnie got the first out of the bottom of the sixth before turning it over to Andrew Johnson, who worked 3.2 scoreless innings to close it out. Johnson gave up just two hits and no walks while striking out two.
TOP PERFORMERS
COMING UP
The Trojans and Tar Heels will face off again on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET on ESPN. A USC win would send the Trojans to the College World Series. A UNC win would force a decisive game three on Sunday with the time TBA.
Dean Capentier hit a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the sixth inning as USC rallied for eight runs in the sixth and seventh to take a late four run lead.
After the first two batters of the sixth reached, Kevin Takeuchi started the late rally with a bloop single down the left field line that scored Adrian Lopez. The next two batters were retired before Andrew Lamb worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Carpentier jumped all over the second pitch he saw, sending it out to left to give USC a 6-5 lead.
The Trojans would manufacture three runs in the seventh on a groundout, fielder's choice and sacrifice bunt to go up 9-5. Andrew Lamb gave USC its first run of the game in the third with a solo-homer.
Chase Herrell had a clutch relief outing to keep USC within striking distance after entering the game in the fourth and holding North Carolina to one run in 2.0 innings of work. He would pick up the win as the pitcher of record when the Trojans scored five in the sixth.
Ben Cushnie got the first out of the bottom of the sixth before turning it over to Andrew Johnson, who worked 3.2 scoreless innings to close it out. Johnson gave up just two hits and no walks while striking out two.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Andrew Johnson: 3.2 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
- Chase Herrell: 2.0 IP, 3H, R, 0BB, K
- Dean Carpentier: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, R, GW-GS
- Andrew Lamb: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2R, BB, SAC
- Kevin Takeuchi: 3-for-4, RBI, 2R
COMING UP
The Trojans and Tar Heels will face off again on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET on ESPN. A USC win would send the Trojans to the College World Series. A UNC win would force a decisive game three on Sunday with the time TBA.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Herrell, Chase (6-4)
L: McDuffie, Walker (7-3)
S: Johnson, Andrew (1)
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
HR: Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Carpentier, Dean 1
RBI: Basseer, Jack 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 2 ; Carpentier, Dean 4 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Cadena, Isaac 1
SH: Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Urbon, Walter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Augie 2 ; Lopez, Adrian 2 ; Lamb, Andrew 2 ; Carpentier, Dean 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 2
HBP: Basseer, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
RBI: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
SF: Gallaher, Gavin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Winslow, Macon 1 ; Howe, Tyler 2 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Players Mentioned
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