The USC Trojans baseball squad is headed to College Station, Texas, for an NCAA Tournament regional that could finally close a 28‑year championship drought.
At the heart of the rotation is ace Mason Edwards, who boasts a 1.43 ERA and 160 strikeouts this season, but coach Andy Stankiewicz is weighing whether to hold him back for later matchups.
Opening battle against the Texas State Bobcats
The Trojans will open play against the Texas State Bobcats, a team that calls San Marcos home, and the lineup reads like a who’s who of recent standouts.
Abbrie Covarrubias will lead off the game and has already stolen 35 bases this spring, while Adrain Lopez sits at No. 2 in the order and has compiled 56 runs and 41 RBIs.
Kevin Takeuchi, tied for the team lead with 56 runs scored, brings a .306 average and 64 hits to the table, and Isaac Cadena adds a power threat with seven home runs.
Jack Basseer, the team’s top hitter at .356 with ten homers, anchors the middle of the order, giving the Trojans a deep and balanced attack.
The winner of this opening contest will advance to meet the victor of the Texas A&M Aggies or Lamar Cardinals showdown in the winner’s bracket, a path that could reshape the regional narrative.
Beyond the star names, the roster also features contributions from Grant Govel, Andrew Johnson, Andrew Lamb, Dean Carpentier, Walter Urbon, Maximo Martinez, Maddox Riske and Richard Tejada, each looking to make an impact.
With the regional set to unfold over the coming days, the Trojans hope to translate their strong regular‑season numbers into a long‑awaited title that would energize the Los Angeles campus and its fans.