A historic season reaches its climax
The No. 25 USC baseball squad is set to begin the Big Ten Tournament by meeting Michigan State, the 12th seed, in a first‑round contest that will be aired on the Big Ten Network.
Seeded fourth, the Trojans bring a 42‑14 overall record and a .750 winning percentage that ranks 11th nationally, while their RPI sits at No. 8. The team also boasts the best home record in program history at 32‑1, a testament to the comfort they find at Schwab Field.
At the forefront of the rotation is Mason Edwards, who enters the tournament with an 8‑0 record, a 1.49 ERA and the most strikeouts in the NCAA at 154. His dominance earned him the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honor and helped the staff lead the nation in hits per nine innings (6.85) and shutouts (9).
Joining Edwards are Grant Govel, a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year award with a 2.76 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP that tops the Big Ten, and Jack Basseer, the team’s leading hitter batting .364. The Trojans have also recorded nine sweeps this season, the second most in the NCAA, underscoring their ability to close series quickly.
Beyond individual accolades, the pitching staff’s nine shutouts mark the highest total in the country, and the team’s overall pitching metrics rank No. 1 nationally for hits allowed per nine innings. With a deep roster that includes players such as Abbrie Covarrubias, Adrian Lopez and Gavin Lauridsen, USC looks to translate its regular‑season momentum into a tournament run that could cement its place among the nation’s elite.