IRVINE, Calif. – Gonzaga baseball opened an 8-0 lead over Southern California, warding off a Trojan rally halfway through to earn the 9-6 win in the series opener on Thursday at Great Park Sports Complex. USC is splitting its home slate in Irvine and at LMU's home field in Los Angeles due to construction this season.
 
Gonzaga (18-15) took the lead just two batters into the game, eventually scoring three in the opening frame. After three more runs in the third and two in the fifth, the Bulldogs had an 8-0 lead over USC (23-14). RBI triples from Gage Mestas and Max Coupe, and a three-run home run from Tommy Eisenstat highlighted the Bulldogs' early offensive onslaught.
 
Finbar O'Brien (W, 4-0) threw four perfect innings to open the contest, but the Trojan bats came alive in the fifth and sixth, plating three runs in each to chase O'Brien and bring the score to within two runs. Out of the GU bullpen, Garrett Gores and Erik Hoffberg (S, 4) combined for four innings without allowing an earned run, surrendering just three hits.
 
In the top of the ninth, Mikey Bell extended his home run streak to five games, clubbing his team-leading eighth long ball of the season. Hoffberg returned to the mound to complete a six-out save, needing just 22 pitches to face the minimum in the eighth and ninth.
 
The Bulldog offense notched nine hits for the 12th straight game, led by two-hit performances from Ty Yukumoto (2-for-4, R, BB), Mestas (2-for-5, RBI, R, 3B), Bell (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, HR), and Luca DiPaolo (2-for-4, RBI).
 
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Miles Gosztola will take the mound on Friday as GU looks to clinch the series win. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with the game airing on Big Ten Plus.