The USC Trojans did not play at the Pac-12 Baseball Tournament on Wednesday in Scottsdale, Arizona. Yet, their odds of making a deep run increased.
USC is in Pool B with UCLA and Washington. On Wednesday, the Bruins hammered the Huskies, 17-4, scoring at least three runs in four consecutive innings and putting the game away with seven runs in the fifth. That result improves the odds of a deep run for USC in Scottsdale because the Trojans have already beaten UCLA. If they beat Washington on Thursday (2:30 p.m. Pacific time, Pac-12 Network), they are now guaranteed to advance to the semifinals as the winner of Pool B.
It gets better for USC if the Trojans can beat Washington. They would not only qualify for the semifinals, but with third-seeded Washington out, the fourth-seeded Trojans would be assured of not having to play top-seeded Stanford in the semifinals, since the semis would pit the highest remaining seed against the lowest remaining seed.
Here’s another detail worth noting: Oregon State lost to Arizona on Wednesday in a big upset. The Beavers are the No. 2 seed. If they lose to Arizona State on Thursday, they’re out of the tournament. USC could play a lower seed in the semis.
All this is in play if the Trojans beat Washington on Thursday. That’s a very big ballgame for Andy Stankiewicz’s team.
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