The No. 17 USC Trojans pulled off a dramatic 2-1 extra-inning victory over the No. 16 Oregon Ducks on Thursday night in Eugene, delivering a game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last out.
It was a night where pitching and defense stole the spotlight, and the Trojans leaned on a true ace to set the tone. Mason Edwards was simply dominant on the mound, tossing six scoreless innings while racking up an incredible 12 strikeouts and surrendering just four hits. Edwards struck out the side twice during the afternoon, including a critical escape act in the third inning when Oregon had runners on second and third with no outs. He answered the call with three consecutive strikeouts, showcasing the composure that has helped him tally 154 strikeouts this season—the most in the NCAA by a wide margin.
On the other side, Oregon’s Cal Scolari turned in a solid performance of his own, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on four hits. But the game’s defining moment came in the 11th inning, when USC catcher Isaac Cadena crushed a solo home run to right field, breaking a 1-1 tie and putting the Trojans ahead for good.
Cadena wasn’t just a hero with the bat. Earlier in the game, he threw out two Oregon baserunners attempting to steal, showing off his elite defensive skills behind the plate before shifting to left field. And when the Ducks mounted one final threat in the bottom of the 11th—loading the bases with two outs—it was Cadena who bolted in from left to make a sliding catch on a line drive, silencing the Oregon crowd and ending the game in spectacular fashion.
Offensively, USC’s bats were quiet for most of the night. The Trojans managed just six hits over 11 innings and didn’t score their second run until the 11th. Their first run came in the second inning on a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Dean Carpentier that brought home right fielder Jack Basseer. After that, USC was held to just two hits for the remainder of Scolari’s outing.
After Edwards exited, the bullpen held strong until Oregon’s Naulivou Lauaki Jr. tied the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning. But USC refused to fold, setting the stage for Cadena’s heroics in extras.
This was the kind of game where every pitch, every swing, and every defensive play matters—and the Trojans proved they have the grit to win in the tightest of situations. A true nail-biter from start to finish.