LATINO SPORTS NETWORK
February 18, 2018
LOS ANGELES – The USC bats broke the game open with a six-run fifth inning and the bullpen locked it down from there as the Trojans beat Utah Valley 8-6 on Sunday afternoon to pick up a season-opening series win.
USC moves to 2-1 with the victory and will head to Long Beach State on Tuesday.
The Trojans batted around in the fifth, getting a game-tying two-run single from Brady Shockey, and then a go-ahead two-run single from Brandon Perez. Blake Sabol capped the scoring with an RBI ground-rule double.
Solomon Bates picked up the win after giving up two runs over 2.1 innings pitched, and for the second straight day, Brad Wegman held the lead over 1.2 innings and Connor Lunn finished things off with a perfect ninth. The USC bullpen gave up three hits and two runs over the final 5.0 innings.
The Trojans opened the scoring in the second, taking advantage of a Wolverine error to go up 1-0. Utah Valley would come back with three runs in the third, followed by an RBI single from Perez in the bottom half of the inning.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Brandon Perez went 3-for-3 with three RBI, a runs scored and a walk.
- Brady Shockey was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored
- Dillon Paulson went 1-for-3, walked twice and scored two runs.
- Ben Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a run scored and stolen base.
- Brad Wegman tossed 1.2 innings without giving up a hit or run.
- Connor Lunn worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the year.
- Solomon Bates struck out three batters and walked none while picking up the win.
WEEKEND NOTES
- The USC Bullpen gave up just three runs and eight hits in 14.0 innings of work over the weekend.
- The Trojans broke out for 12 hits on Sunday after a slow offensive start to the year.
- Perez leads all players with four RBI so far.
- Paulson worked six walks in three games for a .615 on-base percentage.
- Lars Nootbaar hit for extra-bases on two of his three hits for a .583 slugging percentage.
- Five Trojans made their collegiate debuts this weekend; Ramirez, Kyle Hurt, John Beller, Brian Gursky and Jamal O’Guinn.