Adrian Lopez ripped a two-run double down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, lifting USC to a 6-5 walk-off win over Washington on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in the Trojans’ final game of pool play at the 2025 Big Ten Tournament.
TROJANS WALK IT OFF 💥#B1GBaseball x @USC_Baseball pic.twitter.com/MJ3JIpTYda
— Big Ten Baseball (@B1Gbaseball) May 23, 2025
The win marked the 100th career victory for USC head coach Andy Stankiewicz, who joined Mike Gillespie as the only coaches in program history to reach the milestone within their first three seasons. USC improved to 35-21 on the season, their highest win total since 2015, while Washington fell to 29-28.
Friday’s win was the 100th victory at USC for Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz 💯✌️
Stankiewicz joins Hall-of-Famer Mike Gillespie as the only coaches to record at least 100 wins in their first 3 seasons at USC.
Congrats, @turntwo17! #FightOn x #Brick_By_Brick pic.twitter.com/6DUVtbW9Un
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) May 23, 2025
USC struck first in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Adrian Lopez doubled to left to drive in the game’s first run. In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans added two more. Carson Grudzielanek singled and advanced on an errant pickoff throw before scoring on a hit by Augie Lopez, who came home shortly after on a single to left by Ethan Hedges, giving USC a 3-0 lead.
BOT 4 | RBI single from Hedgey ✌️
USC 3, UW 0#FightOn x @ethan_hedges pic.twitter.com/DQ2EeCZEBk
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) May 23, 2025
Washington surged ahead in the top of the sixth. Alex Guerrero led off with a solo home run to left, followed by back-to-back extra-base hits from Cole Taggart and Michael Knight. Carter Bower added an RBI single, and Jace Hotchkiss capped the five-run frame with a two-run homer to put the Huskies up 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, USC clawed back. Brayden Dowd crushed a solo homer to right, his seventh of the season, cutting the lead to one.
Remember the name. pic.twitter.com/djkTVrBoL8
— Washington Baseball (@UW_Baseball) May 23, 2025
The Trojans went into the bottom of the ninth trailing 5-4. After a pinch strikeout to start the frame, Dowd worked his third walk of the night. Hedges followed with a single to left, moving Dowd into scoring position. After a lineout, Lopez stepped in with two outs and laced an 0-2 pitch down the right field line. Dowd scored easily from second, and Hedges slid in safely behind him to complete the comeback.
Lopez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and three RBI, including the game-winner. Dowd finished 1-for-2 with three walks, two runs scored, and a home run. Hedges added two hits and a scoreless ninth inning on the mound to earn the win.
Hear from Adrian Lopez after his game-winning hit seals it for the Trojans ✌️#FightOn x @alopez1100 pic.twitter.com/aerQJ1frNd
— USC Baseball (@USC_Baseball) May 23, 2025
The game served as a final opportunity for USC to strengthen its at-large case for the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans will enter Monday’s Selection Show with 18 wins against Quad 1 and 2 opponents, a No. 44 RPI, and series wins over No. 13 UCLA, No. 9 Vanderbilt, and No. 20 UC Irvine. They’ve won 10 of 14 weekend series, including 7 of 10 in Big Ten play.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show airs Monday, May 26, at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
