USC shuts out Michigan State in Big Ten Tournament opener

Sometimes the easy narratives hold up.

In a battle between the nation’s strikeout leader and the last team to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament, Mason Edwards prevailed.

The USC ace shut down Michigan State over four scoreless innings Friday before facing an opponent he could not overcome.

The weather.

A 1-hour 42-minute rain delay knocked Edwards out of the game but could not derail the fourth-seeded Trojans’ early momentum during a 7-0 victory at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

Edwards and three relievers gave up only six hits while combining for USC’s nation-leading 10th shutout — the team’s most in a season since 1971.

Meanwhile, Kevin Takeuchi hit two doubles and Jack Basseer and Abbrie Covarrubias each drove in two runs to spark a USC offense that relied on clutch hitting, scoring every run with two outs.

Edwards piled up six strikeouts and gave up only two hits before departing with a 4-0 lead over the 12th-seeded Spartans when rain forced both teams from the field in the middle of the fourth inning.

“You always want to go more than four innings as a starter,” Edwards told the Big Ten Network afterward, “so obviously not too happy about coming out in the fourth, but it’s all good — we’ve got other guys in the ‘pen who are able to go out and get the job done.”

USC coach Andy Stankiewicz said on the Big Ten Network that once the delay exceeded an hour, “we felt like the smart move was to take him out,” adding that there was more baseball to play in the postseason for the Trojans (43-14).

Michigan State (24-32) went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners. USC’s Chase Herrell pitched his way into and out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning, retiring Khamaree Thomas on a grounder for the final out.

What it means

This was another step in USC’s bid to become one of 16 teams selected to host an NCAA Tournament Regional.

Hosting would provide a significant boost to a team that has gone a school-record 32-1 at home, and the Trojans appear to have a strong case to get their wish.

USC opened the week with an RPI of No. 8, putting it in good historic company — 215 of 216 teams (99.5%) that have been in the top eight since 1999 were awarded hosting honors. 

Turning point

The Trojans’ two-out magic started in the first inning.

After Augie Lopez walked on four pitches, Takeuchi ripped a run-scoring double to left-center field. Isaac Cadena followed with a run-scoring triple to left-center, giving USC a 2-0 lead — more than enough run support for Edwards.

Did you see that?

Takeuchi, the Trojans third baseman, made the defensive play of the game when he backhanded a ball near the foul line and made a strong throw across the infield to record the final out of the eighth inning.

MVP: Mason Edwards

Edwards worked out of several jams, stranding a runner at second base in the first, third and fourth innings.

“At this point in the season, it’s about filling it up,” Edwards said, referring to his approach in attacking hitters by throwing strikes. “I feel like teams have seen my stuff, they have a game plan going into games, so just filling it up, getting balls in play, helping my defense make plays, that always helps and just keeping my pitch count down — that’s kind of the whole goal there is trying to get deep into games and keep the score low and just help my guys get closer to a win.”

Up next

The Trojans advanced to face UCLA or Purdue in a semifinal at noon PDT on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

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