Trojans Rally, But Fall Short at Oregon State, 9-7

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The USC baseball team rallied for five runs in the fourth to tie the game, but a late two-run homer handed Oregon State a 9-7 win on Saturday evening in Corvallis.
 
USC falls to 19-21 overall and 7-13 in Pac-12 play with the loss, with the Beavers moving to 31-14, 13-7.
 
The Trojans faced a 7-2 deficit heading to the fourth, but Garret Guillemette hit a solo-homer on the first pitch of the inning and sparked a five-run rally. Rhylan Thomas and Ben Ramirez singled home runs, and Tyler Pritchard and Jamal O'Guinn gave themselves up to score runs.
 
The five-run fourth came after Oregon State scored five in the second to take the lead. The teams headed to the bottom of the eighth still knotted at 7-7, when Wade Meckler hit a two-run shot to put the Beavers ahead for good.
 
Joey Mundt came in to pitch a scoreless ninth to pick up the save of Oregon State.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Rhylan Thoms: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2R
• Garret Guillemette: 2-for-4, RBI, R
• Carson Wells: 2-for-3, 2R, 2 doubles

 
UP NEXT
The Trojans and Beavers wrap things up on Sunday at 12 p.m. Tomorrow's series finale will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.