USC Baseball Falls, 6-2, in Series Opener to No. 25 Arizona State

LOS ANGELES – The USC baseball team dropped its series opener to No. 25 Arizona State, 6-2, at home on Friday night.
 
The Trojans loaded the bases in the ninth, but couldn't come up with the big hit, falling to 22-24 overall on the season and 10-15 in Pac-12 play. The Sun Devils improve to 31-16 overall and 15-10 in conference action.
 
Arizona State used a five-run sixth inning to break open the game and go up for good on the night, getting a pair of homers in the frame, including a three-run homer from Nate Baez.
 
USC took a 2-1 lead into the sixth after getting a sacrifice fly in the third and an RBI single in the fifth from Rhylan Thomas.
 
Isaac Esqueda took the loss for USC after giving up the six runs in 7.0 innings of work. Tyler Thornton picked up the win, giving up the two runs in 5.2 innings on the mound. Brian Gursky tossed 2.0 scoreless frames for USC in relief.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Rhylan Thomas: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB
• Tyler Pritchard: 2-for-4, R, 2B
• Brian Gursky: 2.0 IP, 0H, 3K, 0BB

 
UP NEXT
The Trojans and Sun Devils are back at it on Saturday at 3 p.m. and then wrap things up with Senior Day at Dedeaux Field on Sunday at noon. Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.