Arizona Baseball loses series to last-placed USC

LOS ANGELES, CA – Despite taking game two, Arizona Baseball (33-17, 14-10) fell to USC (24-21, 8-16) in game one and game three to drop the series. 

Hoping to bounce back following their mid-week loss to Grand Canyon just days prior, Arizona Baseball traveled to Los Angeles to take on last-placed USC for an important three-game conference series.

But unfortunately, once again, Arizona looked like the inconsistent team we’ve seemingly grown accustomed to this season, as the Wildcats were completely disjointed and dysfunctional.

Doomed by its inconsistent pitching, the Wildcats’ bats weren’t much better, plating just nine runs in three games en route to the series loss.

Despite looking like a strong team in game two, Arizona Baseball lost yet another Pac-12 road series, this time to the last-placed Trojans.

Game 1:

Turning to T.J. Nichols in game one, the Wildcats’ hurler would have a decent outing in this one lasting six innings as he surrendered just four runs on six hits while striking out nine Trojan batters.

He would then be replaced by George Arias, Jr. who would surrender two runs in his lone inning pitched followed by Javyn Pimental who held the Trojans scoreless.

Unfortunately, it was the Wildcats’ offense that would struggle in this one. Despite Arizona’s pitching struggles, the Cats would muster just one run, scoring their lone run in the sixth when Tony Bullard flied out to right field to make it 3-1. Arizona would go on to lose by a 6-1 final.

Game 2:

Turning to Garrett “Gary” Irvin, the Wildcat’s hurler would bring his A game in this one, tossing six-and-two-thirds innings as he held USC to one run on four hits while striking out seven batters.

Unfortunately, Irvin wouldn’t earn the win in this one. Replacing Gary with Quinn Flanagan followed by Trevor Long, the Wildcats’ two were also stellar, finishing the game by holding the Trojans to just one run on three hits.

Offensively, even though Arizona wasn’t stellar, the Wildcats’ did just enough as they plated a run in the third, followed by a two-run inning in the eighth to come away with the 3-2 win. Daniel Susac would have a big day, hitting 2-4 from the dish with two RBIs.

Game 3:

Turning to Anthony Susac in game three to hopefully close out the series with a win, the Wildcats’ starter would have a day I’m sure he would like to forget.

Lasting just two and one-thirds innings, Susac would be roughed early and often, surrendering three runs on five hits. He would be replaced by Eric Orloff who would also be roughed up as he lasted just one and two-thirds, surrendering four runs on two hits.

Arizona would use a myriad of different relief pitchers in this one, and despite Arizona holding the Trojans to just one run over the final three-plus innings of play, it would be too much for the Wildcats to overcome, falling to Utah by an 8-5 final to drop the three-game series.

Where does Arizona Baseball go from here?

With the losses, Arizona falls to 33-17 (14-10) on the year and will return to action next Friday when they take on Oregon State for a massive three-game series in Tucson. The Wildcats will then follow that up with a three-game road trip against Oregon the following weekend to close out the season.