Opening Blast
The Trojans erupted early, plating four runs in the bottom of the first as Texas A&M’s defense faltered. The Aggies answered with a solo homer from Chris Hacopian, but the early onslaught set a steep tone.
USC’s momentum grew in the third inning when Andrew Lamb launched a three‑run homer, pushing the lead to seven. The Aggies managed a single run in the fourth, courtesy of Gavin Grahovac’s 446‑foot blast that landed deep in the outfield.
Aggies Fight Back, Trojans Pull Away
A rally attempt came in the eighth when Jake Duer doubled home a run, narrowing the gap. However, USC answered with a flurry of hits that capped the scoring at 14‑3, sealing the game before the final inning.
On the mound, starter Ethan Darden struggled, surrendering four runs before two outs were recorded. Relievers Gavin Lyons, Cooper Powell, Hunter Vincent, Juan Vargas and Grant Cunningham tried to stem the tide, but the Trojans’ bats remained hot.
Rematch Looms on Monday
Both teams will meet again on Monday at 8:06 p.m., a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN2. The stakes are high, with the winner likely to dictate the regional bracket’s final standings.