Déjà vu as Trojans Take Down No. 17 UC Irvine, 12-4

IRVINE, Calif. – For the second week in a row, the USC baseball team put up double-digit runs in a convincing win over No. 17 UC Irvine, this time picking up an 12-4 road win over the Anteaters on Wednesday night.
 
The Trojans had a season high 16 hits in the game as they move to 18-19 on the year. UCI falls to 25-8 with the loss. It was the sixth time this season USC has put up double digit runs and comes on the heels of a 12-5 win over the Anteaters last week. It was the Trojans' fifth win over a ranked opponent this season.
 
USC got things started with a three-run second inning and then broke the game open with five runs in the fourth. The Trojans scored in five of the nine innings, getting hits from nine different players and getting RBI from four different Trojans. Abbrie Covarrubias led the way with three hits and five RBI, while Kevin Takeuchi had three hits and three RBI.
 
Michael Ebner set the tone early on the mound, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings in the start. Ebner gave up two hits and no walks, while striking out three. Eric Hammond and Fisher Johnson each threw 2.0 relief innings, giving up a run each, and Brodie Purcell got the final four outs without giving up a run.
 
The Anteaters scored lone runs in the fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. USC was able to limit the damage in the fourth with an inning-ending double play, a feat the Trojans repeated in the fifth as well.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Abbrie Covarrubias: 3-for-5, 5 RBI, R
• Kevin Takeuchi: 3-for-5, 3 RBI, R, 2B
• Austin Overn: 3-for-5, RBI, R
• Michael Ebner: 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K

 
COMING UP
USC has a bye week in its Pac-12 schedule this weekend, hosting Sacramento State on Friday and Sunday, and Santa Clara on Saturday, for a trio of non-conference matchups. Links to follow all games can be found on the baseball schedule page at USCTrojans.com.