Fast start fizzles for slumping UCSB in loss at #12 USC

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KEYT) - A 3-run first inning and 4-0 lead in the third inning disappeared quickly as UCSB lost at #12 USC 7-6.

The Gauchos lost for the eighth time in the past ten games to drop to 16-10 on the season while the Trojans ran their sensational record to 27-3 including 19-1 at home.

Xavier Esquer roped a 2-run double to give UCSB a 3-0 first inning lead. Noah Karliner singled in Colin Beazizo in the third inning for the Gauchos fourth run of the game.

The USC offense woke up in the bottom of the third, sparked by a two-run triple from Abbrie Covarrubias and then an RBI groundout from Maximo Martinez to cut the deficit to one.

Adrian Lopez sparked another three-run rally in the fourth with a solo-homer to left, tying the game at 4-4. After Andrew Lamb singled up the middle and Kevin Takeuchi doubled to put runners on second and third, Lamb scored on a wild pitch and Takeuchi came home on a groundout by Isaac Cadena to make it 6-4 in favor of USC.

Each team traded a run in the sixth inning and the Gauchos scored a run in the top of the ninth inning. Rowan Kelly belted his second double of the game and scored on a sacrifice fly by Beazizo but they could not get any closer.

(USC Athletics contributed to this article).