LOS ANGELES – The USC Trojans evened up a three-game series with Arizona on Saturday, topping the Wildcats 12-2 at Dedeaux Field.
The loss dropped Arizona to 21-12 overall and 5-6 in Pac-12 play. USC improved to 17-13 overall and 6-8 in league play. The Trojans responded after falling to Arizona 14-2 in the series opener Friday night.
The Trojans got to starter
Michael Flynn for two runs in the first and added two more in the second to grab an early 4-0 lead. In the third, USC created even more separation, plating six runs and knocking Flynn out of the game. The junior suffered just the second loss of his career and fell to 5-2 on the season. Right-hander Solomon Bates earned the win for USC, pitching seven innings of two-run ball.
Bates allowed four hits and struck out four in earning the win. Leading 10-0, Bates didn't allow his first hit of the game until the sixth inning when leadoff man
Cal Stevenson hit a line drive single to right field. The single moved
Matt Fraizer, who walked earlier in the inning, to second base.
Cameron Cannon then walked to load the bases for Alfonso Rivas.
Rivas singled up the middle to score Fraizer and Stevenson and get Arizona on the scoreboard. His two-run single made it 10-2. Two batters later,
Cesar Salazar singled to load the bases, but a pop out from
Tate Soderstrom ended the threat and kept it at an eight-run game.
Rivas was the lone Wildcat to register a multiple-hit game, finishing 2 for 4 with two RBI, upping his season average to .351. Stevenson finished 1 for 4 with a run scored.
Freshman right-hander
Jonathan Guardado was strong in relief of Flynn, tossing 3 2/3 innings of hitless baseball. Senior
Seve Romo pitched the final 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Wildcats.
The rubber match in the series is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. Left-hander Quentin Longrie will start for the Trojans. Arizona has yet to announce its starter for the series finale.
