
Gonzaga Falls to USC in Rubber Match, 11-1
4/19/2025 4:51:00 PM | Baseball
Six runs in the eighth inning by the Trojans halted the game via the mercy rule
IRVINE, Calif. – The Gonzaga bats fell relatively quiet in the series finale at Southern California on Saturday. The Trojans utilized a trio of two-run innings before a six-run eighth closed out the 11-1 win via the mercy rule at Great Park.
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Gonzaga (18-16) drops their first series since March 7-9, a streak of five series wins that included three sweeps. Still, the Bulldogs are 16-5 in their last 21 games and hold a one-game lead in the West Coast Conference standings.
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USC (25-14) was first to score on Saturday, plating two runs in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings off GU starter Justin Feld (L, 3-5). Adrian Lopez continued to torment the Bulldogs, adding an RBI single and a two-run home run during that three-inning stretch.
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The Trojans then used a six-run eighth inning to put the game away early, tacking on four hits in the frame.
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The lone Bulldog run came across in the top of the fourth, as Hudson Shupe scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1 USC at the time. After a hitless performance Friday, Shupe finished with two of Gonzaga's four hits Saturday. Mikey Bell collected a double in his 1-for-3 effort.
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UP NEXT
The Zags will make a stop at Oregon State for two games Monday and Tuesday. The Beavers are currently ranked No. 6 in the country but will potentially move up after sweeping CSUN this weekend. GU will then return home to face second-place San Diego in a return to West Coast Conference play, hoping to slow a Toreros' surge that is on an eight-game conference win streak.
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Gonzaga (18-16) drops their first series since March 7-9, a streak of five series wins that included three sweeps. Still, the Bulldogs are 16-5 in their last 21 games and hold a one-game lead in the West Coast Conference standings.
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USC (25-14) was first to score on Saturday, plating two runs in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings off GU starter Justin Feld (L, 3-5). Adrian Lopez continued to torment the Bulldogs, adding an RBI single and a two-run home run during that three-inning stretch.
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The Trojans then used a six-run eighth inning to put the game away early, tacking on four hits in the frame.
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The lone Bulldog run came across in the top of the fourth, as Hudson Shupe scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1 USC at the time. After a hitless performance Friday, Shupe finished with two of Gonzaga's four hits Saturday. Mikey Bell collected a double in his 1-for-3 effort.
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UP NEXT
The Zags will make a stop at Oregon State for two games Monday and Tuesday. The Beavers are currently ranked No. 6 in the country but will potentially move up after sweeping CSUN this weekend. GU will then return home to face second-place San Diego in a return to West Coast Conference play, hoping to slow a Toreros' surge that is on an eight-game conference win streak.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Purcell, Brodie (2-2)
L: Feld, Justin (3-5)

Batting:
2B: Bell, Mikey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shupe, Hudson 1
SB: Coupe, Max 1
HBP: Yukumoto, Ty 1

Batting:
2B: Lopez, Augie 1
HR: Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Basseer, Jack 1
RBI: Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Grudzielanek, Bryce 3 ; Lopez, Adrian 3 ; Martinez, Maximo 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Basseer, Jack 2
SH: Hedges, Ethan 1
SF: Grudzielanek, Bryce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dowd, Brayden 2 ; Hedges, Ethan 1 ; Grudzielanek, Bryce 1 ; Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Lopez, Augie 2 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Basseer, Jack 3
SB: Grudzielanek, Bryce 1
Game Leaders
Saturday, October 03
Saturday, October 03
Tuesday, June 30
Monday, June 29






