USC Trojans Explodes Offensively, Trounces Lamar to Keep Baseball Season Alive

The USC Trojans baseball team needed to shake off the Game 1 loss fast, and reignited their offense to pummel contest against Lamar 19-6.

USC pitcher Mason Edwards throws a pitch as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

USC Trojans baseball entered day two of the College Station Regional with their backs against the wall.

Now they can breathe out relief in watching the bats come alive again, spearheading the 19-6 rout of Lamar to stay alive in the NCAA Tournament.

Texas State leapfrogged the Trojans late to start the College Station Regional. USC witnessed Chase Mora of the Bobcats blast a two-run home run during the ninth inning, making the difference in the 5-4 win for Texas State.

USC pitcher Mason Edwards (30) throws the ball during the fourth inning against Saint Mary's at the NCAA Corvallis Regional at Goss Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

USC needed to respond quick. The Trojans dealt with more than limited rest after playing a game that nearly went past midnight in Texas. A loss would've sent USC back home in the postseason double-elimination format, ending the Trojans' College World Series dreams. But USC pounded 19 hits total including powering three home runs to avoid elimination. Now they await the loser of the Texas State versus Texas A&M evening game for Game 3.

Live updates are below.

LIVE UPDATES

FINAL SCORE: USC 19, LAMAR 6

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-Chabot sends the Trojans to Sunday, striking out two Lamar batters.

-Henry Chabot steps in as USC's closer at pitcher.

TOP OF THE NINTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-Lamar sends out its 10th different pitcher on the day: Tanner Carlisle.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-Rohan Kasanagottu strikes out two batters to close out the inning for USC.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-Lamar ends the inning with a double play at second and first base.

-Basseer pounds the 18th Trojan hit of the game on a single to right.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-USC forces a fly out and two pop outs to prevent any scoring.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH INNING: USC 19, LAMAR 6

-Adrian Lopez blasts sacrifice RBI for the 19th USC run.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH INNING: USC 18, LAMAR 6

-Herrell only allows one run and forces a ground plus fly out to close the sixth.

-Error at third leads to sixth run by Lamar.

TOP OF THE SIXTH INNING: USC 18, LAMAR 5

-Cadena advances to third on fielding error, scores Takeuchi in the process.

-Takeuchi smacks second double of the game, this one to right center for the RBI.

-Adrian Lopez starts the sixth with a left field single.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH INNING: USC 16, LAMAR 5

-Herrell ends the inning with a strikeout and force out at the plate.

-Edwards is officially relieved by Chase Herrell following 85 total pitches. Walks the first runner home Braden Benton.

-Jake Wagoner adds to the current surge for Lamar, doubling to center for the RBI.

-AJ Taylor adds two more runs for the Cardinals on a single to right center field for the RBI.

-Edwards allows biggest hit of the game in a solo double by Theo Kummer. Easton Kulp pinch ran for Kummer and advanced home on a wild pitch.

TOP OF THE FIFTH INNING: USC 16, LAMAR 0

-Urbon continues hot hitting streak, this time blasts a sacrifice RBI to give USC a 16-run lead.

-Carpentier adds to the scoring onslaught off a double down the right field line for the RBI.

-Cadena scores following a fielding error that gets Basseer to first.

-Cadena lures Takeuchi home on his RBI double to right field.

-Takeuchi powers a double to left center.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH INNING: USC 12, LAMAR 0

-Edwards ends the inning with two fly outs and a ground out.

-Edwards surrenders a line drive toward third to start the bottom fourth.

TOP OF THE FOURTH INNING: USC 12, LAMAR 0

-Urbon blasts one to left field, this one a grand slam for the Trojans. First career grand slam.

-Lamb delivers latest RBI on single, scoring Cadena.

-Cadena broke his bat swinging, resulting in being safe at first. Call got challenged by Lamar but counts as a single.

-Augie Lopez robbed of a home run at center field for the first out of the fourth.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING: USC 7, LAMAR 0

-USC prevents runs, creates double play after grounder toward second base.

-Edwards now facing two on base following a walk and hit by pitch.

TOP OF THE THIRD INNING: USC 7, LAMAR 0

-Texas State ends the inning on a double play.

-Urbon singles to left after Dean Carpentier takes the walk.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING: USC 7, LAMAR 0

-Edwards delivers second strikeout to close the second.

-Edwards forces ground out and fly out to start the bottom second.

TOP OF THE SECOND INNING: USC 7, LAMAR 0

-USC loads the bases, but Lamar's Jarrett Williams delivers back-to-back strikeouts to close the inning.

-Augie Lopez adds to USC's quick surge on RBI single up the middle.

-Adrian Lopez sends Urbon home on his double to right center field.

-Urbon doubles down third base line to start the second.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING: USC 5, LAMAR 0

-Edwards surrenders one hit, strikes out one and forces a ground out then fly out in opening action.

-Mason Edwards indeed takes the start on the mound for USC.

TOP OF THE FIRST INNING: USC 5, LAMAR 0

-Andrew Lamb adds to USC's hot offensive start, rips a three-run home run to right center field that brings Isaac Cadena and Kevin Takeuchi home.

-Adrian Lopez powers the first points of the game, going deep for the two-run home run to set the tone toward left center field.

-Travis Lutz starting at pitcher for Lamar.

USC Teases Mason Edwards as Starting Pitcher

USC outfielder Jack Basseer hits a single as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Trojans and head coach Andy Stankiewicz chose to ride the arm of Grant Govel to start the postseason. Which placed top ace Mason Edwards in a scenario where he could await until the championship game of the College Station regional to take the mound.

However, USC teased Edwards starting against Lamar on the morning of the game, signaling who the real Game 2 starter will be.

Too busy for the full 28:47?

We've got you covered. ✌️

160 strikeouts. Two minutes. Eighteen seconds. 😤#FightOn x @MasonJEdwards https://t.co/mxkgqvG2QI pic.twitter.com/k5f5sVsxpM

— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) May 30, 2026

This will mean Lamar is facing the reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year on the hill. Edwards carries 160 total strikeouts in tow plus has bottled opponents to just 17 runs facing him. The lefty brings a 1.43 ERA for the playoffs too.

Edwards doesn't surrender much home runs either, allowing only three all season long. Purdue is the last team to send one past the outfield fence back on April 24.

The Cardinals have struggled blasting homers in 2026 with producing only 40 as a team. However, no one has surpassed seven home runs, with A.J. Taylor the leader at seven. Taylor is one of five Lamar players to surpass the .300 batting average. Cade Pregeant leads with .357.

Lamar clearly prefers to play a small ball approach to keep teams on their toes. The Cards will aim to pull off something similar against USC starting with Edwards likely taking the mound.

USC Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz Addresses Offense Concerns

May 31, 2025; Corvallis, OR, USA; USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz takes questions after a game against Saint Mary's at the NCAA Corvallis Regional at Goss Stadium. | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

USC presents one more area to fix: Its offensive output.

Texas State cycled through five different arms on the mound. But each of the pitching options collectively produced 12 strikeouts. Wade Cooper took the win by fanning five and allowing two hits through three innings of play.

More astonishing for the Trojans: 13 runners got left on base with the Texas State pitching lineup keeping them in check. USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz handed the Bobcats' hill rotation praise, but still believes the offense must come alive.

“They can pitch…Gotta give credit where credit's due," Stankiewicz told reporters. "We gotta be a bit tougher in those at-bats, move the ball forward. We had some opportunities to get some ones but we hit some balls pretty good."

USC Projected Starters

Isaac Cadena makes a catch to clinch the Trojans' win in extra innings as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard

Along with Edwards heading to the hill in all likelihood, here are the rest of the projected starters versus Lamar:

Pitcher: Mason Edwards

Catcher: Isaac Cadena

First Base: Adrian Lopez

Second Base: Abbrie Covarrubias

Third Base: Maximo Martinez

Right Field: Jack Basseer

Center Field: Kevin Takeuchi

Left Field: Andrew Lamb

Here's the projected batting order when USC picks up the bat:

1. Abbrie Covarrubias

2. Adrian Lopez

3. Kevin Takeuchi

4. Isaac Cadena

5. Jack Basseer

6. Andrew Lamb

7. Dean Carpentier

8. Walter Urbon

9. Maximo Martinez

10. Maddox Riske

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