NCAA Tournament Opening Night: USC’s Late Collapse

It seems Andy Stankiewicz’s pitching strategy, which some would call a bit unorthodox, just didn’t pan out as hoped.

What does a standard pitching approach even look like anymore?

It’s a bit disheartening, honestly.

On Friday night, with one out in the ninth inning and the game hanging in the balance, the USC baseball coach called in his closer, riding a slim one-run lead.

Adam Troy, a standout reliever, unfortunately faltered in that crucial moment.

He gave up a two-run homer, leading to USC’s 5-4 defeat against Texas State at Olsen Field, and effectively ending their run in the tournament.

Just minutes prior, it seemed like the Trojans (43-16) were in a more favorable position.

After Adrian Lopez’s solo shot lifted them to a 4-3 lead in the eighth, everything took a turn for the worse in the ninth.

Justin Vossos kickstarted the inning with a grounder that USC’s third baseman, Maximo Martinez, couldn’t field cleanly—resulting in an error.

Vossos then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, prompting Stankiewicz to switch relievers, pulling Andrew Johnson for his closer.

Chase Mora then took Troy’s second pitch and launched it over the left field fence, sparking a ritual involving an inflatable pool toy over Troy’s shoulder in the dugout.

With two outs in the ninth, Mora made a spectacular diving catch on Dean Carpentier’s line drive—a moment that could have turned the tide, yet USC fell short. They ended the game with a disappointing 14-1 record when it came to hitting with runners in scoring position.

Stankiewicz had initially selected No. 2 starter Grant Goebel to conserve ace Mason Edwards for what was anticipated to be a tough match against top-seeded Texas A&M the following day.

Goebel did his part with impressive pitching, allowing only 4 hits and 3 runs across 5 2/3 innings. However, with the bullpen unable to hold the late lead, it was Edwards who had to step in and try to salvage the season.

What It Means

To reach the Super Regional for the first time since 2006, USC now needs to secure four consecutive victories.

Turning Point

The Trojans were in a solid position until a fielding misstep in the ninth opened the door for Mora’s pivotal homer.

MVP: Chase Mora

It’s not every day a player hits a game-winning homer and follows it with a game-saving defensive play, especially in the same inning. Mora managed to do just that with two huge plays in the ninth.

Texas State’s right fielder, Rashaun Galloway, deserves a shout-out too. He pulled off a fantastic catch on a towering fly ball from USC’s Kevin Takeuchi, crashing into the wall and preventing extra bases.

Did You See That?

In an odd moment during the third inning, home plate umpire Connor Hoagland got momentarily distracted when a foul ball hit his mask, causing him to drop the ball. It took him a few minutes to gather himself before play resumed.

To The Next

Looking ahead, the Trojans are set to face Lamar on Saturday at 1 PM PT, which will be available on ESPN+.