The University of Southern California baseball team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, landing in the College Station Regional where they will open play against Texas State on Friday.
Advancing past the opening round will require the Trojans to win three or four games within a tight five‑day window, a challenge compounded by a thin pitching staff and a demanding schedule that includes a potential showdown with Texas A&M.
Head coach Andy Stankiewicz now faces a pivotal decision regarding his ace, Mason Edwards, the nation’s most highly regarded starting pitcher, and whether to deploy him in the opener or reserve him for a later clash with the Aggies.
Stankiewicz can lean on Grant Govel as a solid No. 2 option, but the bullpen has been inconsistent throughout the year, leaving the coaching staff to weigh each variable carefully.
The Pitching Decision Looms
If Edwards takes the mound on Friday and works a few innings, he could be available again on Sunday or Monday, whereas a Saturday start would likely mark his only appearance in the regional.
Regardless of the choice, the coach’s ultimate goal is to guide the Trojans to the second weekend of the tournament for the first time in more than two decades, a milestone that would underscore the program’s resurgence.