IRVINE, Calif. – Gonzaga battled back twice to tie the game Friday evening but was unable to pull ahead and eventually fell to Southern California 9-5 at Great Park. After the Bulldogs knotted the score in the seventh, USC scored four in the next half-inning to take the lead for good.
 
Gonzaga (18-16) scored in the first inning for the second time in the series as three of their first four batters reached safely. USC (24-14) starter Caden Aoki (ND) battled back to retire the next 12 GU batters while the Trojans took a 4-1 lead heading into the top of the fifth.
 
A one-out single ignited the Bulldogs' first rally, as Jacob Wrubleski, Luca DiPaolo, Ty Yukumoto, and Gage Mestas recorded four straight hits to knot the score at four. Miles Gosztola (ND), after two consecutive scoreless frames, gave up a solo home run to Kevin Takeuchi that put USC back in front.
 
Mikey Bell picked up his third hit of the night with a one-out RBI double in the seventh, but Gonzaga would leave two in scoring position with a 5-5 tie. Michael Cunneely (L, 1-1) relieved Gosztola, but back-to-back doubles gave the Trojans a 6-5 lead immediately.
 
A two-out GU error proved costly as USC took advantage with three unearned runs to open a 9-5 lead, one that would stick. Andrew Johnson (W, 1-0) picked up the win with three innings of one-run baseball in relief.
 
Despite matching USC's hit total with 12, Gonzaga left seven runners on base Friday. Bell's home run streak was snapped at five games despite a 3-for-4, two RBI effort. Mestas was 3-for-5 on the night with an RBI, while Yukumoto and Wrubleski added two knocks each.
 
UP NEXT
Justin Feld is set to take the mound on Saturday, looking to lead the Bulldogs to a rubber match win. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. with the game airing on Big Ten Plus.