Los Angeles – The USC Trojans used a four-run second inning to erase a two-run deficit and top the visiting Arizona Wildcats 5-2 Saturday afternoon at Dedeaux Field.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to 28-16 on the season and 11-10 in Pac-12 play. Despite Saturday's setback, the Cats went 5-2 on their seven-game road trip, playing seven games in nine days in three ballparks.
Arizona will now return home to Hi Corbett Field to host Oregon State on Friday. The Cats will play six straight at home, before hitting the road again.
The Wildcats scored first Saturday, plating two runs in the second inning after neither team scratched a run across in the first. J.J. Matijevic singled to lead off the inning and moved up a base two batters later when Alfonso Rivas singled. Louis Boyd then grounded out to short to move both runners up a base with two outs.
Cody Ramer came through with two outs sending a hot shot up the middle for a two-run single to score Matijevic and Rivas and give the Cats an early 2-0 lead.
But USC responded right away against Arizona starter Cameron Ming. Ming retired the first two batters in the bottom of the second, before giving up a double to Adalberto Carrillo. Brandon Perez followed with a double of his own to score Carrillo and make it 2-1. After an intentional walk, David Oppenheim singled to score Perez and tie the game.
After another walk, catcher Jeremy Martinez singled to score both runners and give USC its first lead of the game at 4-2. Robby Medel took over for Ming after the single and struck out AJ Ramirez to end the inning with four runs in for the Trojans, all with two outs.
The Wildcats put two men on in each of the next two innings, but couldn't plate any runs. USC put two men on the third, but Kevin Ginkel entered in relief of Medel and got a 4-6-3 double play to end the third. In the bottom of the fourth, Corey Dempster led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly after a groundout and a stolen base got him to third.
That proved to be the final run of the game for both teams. USC's Marc Huberman came on in the fifth inning in relief of starter Mitch Hart and tossed four hitless innings for the Trojans. He walked three and struck out four in his four innings of work.
Bobby Dalbec came on for the Cats in relief of Ginkel to start the sixth and tossed three shutout innings, striking out three and giving up three hits to keep the Cats in the game.
Offensively, Rivas and Cesar Salazar finished with two-hit games. The freshmen combined to go 4 for 9. Ramer finished 1 for 3 with two runs batted in and two walks. Zach Gibbons singled in his final at-bat to reach base safely for the 42nd straight time this season.
Ming took the loss, his first of the season.
