CORVALLIS, Ore. — Saint Mary’s coach Eric Valenzuela knew who he didn’t wish to beat him.

Valenzuela stated earlier than Saturday evening’s matchup with USC that Ethan Hedges is the scariest hitter within the Trojans’ lineup though the midseason All-American hadn’t performed to the identical customary within the second half. Hedges was hitting .415 with 22 extra-base hits, together with 11 residence runs, and 39 RBIs via USC’s first 32 video games. However since April 8, Hedges had lacked the identical electrical energy. Over a 25-game span, he had batted .247 with simply 5 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs.

Nonetheless the concern was there for opposing coaches. Hedges confirmed why Saturday.

USC’s Adrian Lopez (5) forces out Saint Mary’s Diego Castellanos out at first base on Saturday.

(Shotgun Spratling / For The Instances)

He broke out with a two-homer efficiency, together with the go-ahead lengthy ball, to energy USC to a 6-4 victory and into the Corvallis Regional last. The Trojans are one win away from their first tremendous regionals look since 2005.

USC left-hander Mason Edwards pitched an environment friendly 5⅓ innings, needing simply 64 pitches earlier than he was eliminated after giving up his sixth hit. Two of these left the yard, giving Saint Mary’s a 3-1 lead early, however USC confirmed the resiliency that has been a key component of this system below third-year coach Andy Stankiewicz.

With two outs and seemingly no momentum within the fourth inning, USC’s Abbrie Covarrubias acquired on base by beating out a excessive chopper to shortstop. Freshman Augie Lopez tied it two pitches later when he demolished a fastball, placing it on high of the scoreboard in right-center area.

USC pitcher Mason Edwards delivers towards Saint Mary’s within the Corvallis Regional on Saturday.

(Shotgun Spratling / For The Instances)

Hedges’ second blast gave USC a 4-3 lead an inning later.

The Trojans led 5-3 heading into the eighth when issues acquired dicey. Saint Mary’s loaded the bases with a pair of soppy singles to proper area and a four-pitch stroll. A sacrifice fly introduced Gaels three-hole hitter Aiden Taurek to the plate. USC ace reliever Brodie Purcell acquired Taurek to floor right into a fielder’s selection, however then Stankiewicz made the intriguing choice to tug the right-handed Purcell, the Trojans’ workhorse out of the ‘pen all season, in favor of left-hander Caden Hunter despite a right-handed hitter due up.

Hunter, who had worked as a starter until the last couple weeks, struck out Saint Mary’s cleanup hitter Ryan Pierce on a 95-mph fastball after pumping a number of 96- and 97-mph choices — his hardest pitches of the season — earlier within the depend. The Trojans added an insurance coverage run within the backside half of the inning earlier than Hunter dismissed Saint Mary’s last three batters to gather his first Division I save.

USC advances to the Sunday evening regional last at 7 p.m. the place it’ll await the winner of Sunday afternoon’s 3 p.m. matchup between top-seed Oregon State and No. 4 seed Saint Mary’s. If USC have been to lose Sunday evening’s sport, a winner-take-all sport can be performed Monday.

USC’s Abbrie Covarrubias tags out Saint Mary’s Cody Kashimoto on a stolen base try on Saturday.

(Shotgun Spratling / For The Instances)