GAME RECAP: Trojans Get Past Anteaters in Dramatic 8th-Inning Rally, Stay Perfect at 12-0

LOS ANGELES, CA – The USC Trojans refused to let their historic start slip away Monday night at Dedeaux Field. Trailing or tied most of the evening against a pesky UC Irvine squad, the No. 25-ranked Trojans erupted for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull out a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Anteaters and improve to a flawless 12-0 on the young 2026 season.

Only USC and Texas remain undefeated in all of Division I baseball.

It wasn’t pretty early on. UC Irvine jumped on starter Chase Herrell for three runs in the first inning, capped by Tommy Farmer’s two-run homer. USC answered immediately when Abbrie Covarrubias ripped a solo shot in the home half to make it 3-1.

The Trojans kept chipping away. Augie Lopez launched a solo homer in the second to cut the deficit to 3-2. Then in the third, Kevin Takeuchi delivered an RBI single and Lopez added a sacrifice fly to give USC its first lead at 4-3.

The Anteaters knotted it at 4-4 in the sixth on a balk by reliever Gavin Lauridsen, and that’s where things stood until the eighth.

That’s when the Trojans’ patience and power took over. Adrian Lopez worked a walk to get things started, Takeuchi followed with a single, and Maximo Martinez brought home the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout. Jack Basseer then ripped a triple down the right-field line to plate Takeuchi and make it 6-4.

Cameron Fausset (2-0) slammed the door with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit. Sax Matson came on in the ninth to record the save, striking out two more Anteaters.

Offensively, the Trojans scattered eight hits. Covarrubias (HR, 2 runs, RBI, walk, stolen base), Augie Lopez (HR, sacrifice fly, 2 RBI), Basseer (triple, double, RBI, 2 hits), Takeuchi (2 hits, RBI), and Adrian Lopez (3 walks, 2 runs scored) all played major roles in the comeback. The defense was flawless — zero errors — while UCI committed one.

Herrell battled through four innings, allowing three earned runs. The bullpen — Fausset and Matson especially — was lights-out when it mattered most.

With the win, USC stays alone atop the early-season storylines alongside the Texas Longhorns as the last two unbeaten teams in the country. The Trojans will look to keep the magic alive as they will open Big 10 Conference Play on Friday night at Dedeaux Field in game 1 of the 3 game series against Illinois Fighting Illini at 6pm.