The University of Southern California baseball team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, a feat that has reignited excitement among Trojan fans and alumni.
Their first test comes in the College Station Regional, where they will open play against Texas State on Friday, a matchup that could set the tone for a run that many hope will extend beyond the opening weekend.
A Critical Pitching Decision
Head coach Andy Stankiewicz now faces a critical decision regarding his ace, star right‑hander Mason Edwards, whose performance could be the difference between a quick exit and a deep push.
Edwards is widely regarded as one of the premier starting pitchers in the country, and the coaching staff is weighing whether to deploy him on Friday or to hold him in reserve for a potential showdown with Texas A&M on Saturday.
If Edwards takes the mound on Friday, his stamina and workload could allow him to be available again on Sunday or Monday, providing a valuable second start later in the regional. Conversely, saving him for Saturday would likely make that appearance his only outing in the tournament.
The team also counts on Grant Govel as a solid No. 2 starter, but the depth behind the top two remains thin, and a struggling bullpen adds another layer of uncertainty to the equation.
Stankiewicz’s ultimate goal is to guide the Trojans past the regional stage and into the second weekend of the tournament for the first time in more than two decades, a milestone that would mark a new era for USC baseball.