Tyler Lozano Ties USC Baseball Record with Three Homers, but Trojans Fall to ASU

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Tyler Lozano tied a USC record with three home runs in the game, but the USC baseball team couldn't keep pace with Arizona State on Thursday night, falling 14-12 in the series opener.
 
Lozano is the first USC player since Ricky Oropesa in 2010 to hit three home runs in a game. USC had the tying run on in the ninth, but couldn't get a final big hit as the Trojans fall to 18-13 overall and 4-9 in Pac-12 play with the loss. Arizona State improves to 16-19 overall and 6-7 in conference action.
 
The offenses went back and forth all night, with the Sun Devils jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first and USC following with a three-run shot from Lozano in the top of the second.
 
The Trojans entered the sixth inning down 7-4, but scored on an error and got a two-run homer from Lozano to tie things up at 7-7. The lead was short-lived however, as Arizona State scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
USC again made it a one-run game thanks to RBI from Nick Lopez and Trevor Halsema in the seventh, but once again the Sun Devil offense had an answer, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Lopez would double in a pair of runs in the eighth and Lozano hit a solo-shot in the ninth for his third homer of the day. USC had runners on the corners with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.
 
Lozano's three-homer day gives him 10 for the year, putting him in a tie for third in the conference.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Tyler Lozano: 3-for-4, 6RBI, 3R, 3-HR
• Nick Lopez: 2-for-4, 3RBI, R, 2B
• Tyresse Turner: 3-for-4, 2R, 2B

 
COMING UP
The Trojans continue their series at Arizona State on Friday at 6 pm and then wrap things up on Saturday at 12:30 pm. Links to follow both games are available on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.