Overview
- USC beat host Texas A&M 14-3 on Sunday night to force a winner-take-all final on Monday after a dominant offensive and pitching performance at Blue Bell Park.
- Sophomore Andrew Johnson delivered a 7 1/3-inning start, throwing 124 pitches while allowing three runs and striking out four to anchor USC’s win.
- The Trojans have erupted offensively since losing their opener, scoring 48 runs across three elimination wins that included a 19-6 victory over Lamar and a 15-4 rematch win over Texas State earlier Sunday.
- Texas A&M coach Michael Earley confirmed ace Aiden Sims is out for the remainder of the postseason, leaving the Aggies thin on starting options and saying the staff will be “all hands on deck” for Monday’s 8 p.m. CT elimination game.
- Because USC came out of the losers’ bracket, the Trojans still must win the Monday game to clinch the regional and advance to face No. 5 seed North Carolina, and Johnson’s 124-pitch outing highlights how pitcher workloads could shape decisions for both teams.