Lancers Down USC for the First Time in Athletic Department History

Tuesday, March 12

Irvine, CA

6:30 PM

California Baptist University

12-5

University of Southern California

4-12

California Baptist

USC

Photo by: Rayleigh Rogers

Lancers Down USC for the First Time in Athletic Department History

3/12/2024 11:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Mariah Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications and Digital Media

IRVINE, CALIF--- The California Baptist baseball pitching staff had quite the night on the mound as the Lancers returned to Irvine, California, to face USC on Tuesday evening, and left with their first Power-5 win of the season. After the Trojans tied the game in the third inning, a go-ahead solo home run and dominant pitching would ultimately earn the midweek 3-2 victory in favor of the Lancers.

The win against the Trojans marks the first time California Baptist Athletics have beaten USC outright across the department. It also represents the first meeting between the baseball teams, thus also the first win for CBU baseball against Southern California, and the program's second PAC-12 win after downing California 7-0 in 2021.

The Lancers came out hot against the Trojans as Mitchel Simon picked up the first hit of the game with a single and was quickly moved to third after Michael Carpentier knocked his first double of the night. Nicholas Dumesnil drove in a run with a sacrificial hit after grounding out to the USC shortstop and brought home Simon. A Julian Alvarez single to center field brought home the second run of the inning and secured a 2-0 lead.

The Lancers are off to a hot start courtesy of Dumesnil and Alvarez🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/ntngtFgZeU
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 13, 2024

The Trojans responded immediately in the bottom of the first after their lead-off hitter hit a solo shot to cut CBU's lead in half. Starting pitcher Cody New sat down a pair of Trojans and forced another to fly out in the second, but the top of the third proved to be prosperous for the home team after an RBI single tied the game. Strong defense from both squads squashed any runs in the fourth, but Simon's fifth home run of the year restored the lead for the Lancers and ultimately secured the win for CBU.

BYE BYE BASEBALL👋

Mitch gives us the go-ahead in top of the fifth!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/RAdW66NKc7
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 13, 2024

It was a pitcher's duel from the sixth inning through the ninth, with impressive showings coming from Seth Mattox and Nathan Hemmerling. After relieving New in the top of the fourth, Mattox saw four innings of action and allowed just a single hit paired with a season-high nine strikeouts. Hemmerling entered in the eighth and cleaned up the final two innings, facing just six batters total. The CBU pitching staff combined for a game-high 13 strikeouts, matching their previous season-high at UCR earlier this year.

Seth Mattox with a clutch K to get us out of a jam💪#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/wzEidn5lYF
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 13, 2024

The Lancers are set to welcome the University of Connecticut during their Western Athletic Conference bye-weekend with the first game of the three-game series set to begin on Friday at 6 p.m.