USC vs. Arizona baseball recap: Trojans pound Wildcats to clinch series

The Arizona Wildcats will lose their second Pac-12 series of the year after getting pummeled early by the USC Trojans on Friday. The final score ended up being 13-6, but the game was decided early.

Arizona starter Robby Medel struggled to say the least, recording just one out while giving up six hits and six earned runs.

It all started with a double play ball hit to Scott Kingery by the second batter of the game, but he bobbled it and only got the out at first.

"If you look at the first inning, we probably should get out of it without a run," head coach Andy Lopez said after the game. "We don't get the double play, and everything goes haywire from there. Maybe Medel gets out of it, maybe he doesn't. But on Medel's part, you're not always going to be clean, so now you've got pitch your way out of it a little bit."

"If we turn that double play right there, it's definitely not a seven-run inning," Kingery added. "Definitely need to get that turned, and that's what started the whole thing. But obviously I've gotta shake that off."

Medel gave way to Nathan Bannister, but the damage had already been done for the night. USC tallied seven runs in the first, then tacked on five more in the fourth and fifth innings off Bannister. He finished with six earned runs of his own in four innings of work.

USC finished the night 9-of-19 with runners in scoring position. You don't lose a lot of games putting up those kind of numbers.

The highlight of the night for Arizona was Scott Kingery. The lead-off hitter was a triple shy of the cycle, going 5-for-5 with two doubles and a home run that hit the Arizona Baseball lettering above the scoreboard. It was his third home run in the last four games.

"I feel locked in," explained Kingery. "I've never had this much pop, so I don't know what's going on right now. Something got into me. I just feel really good at the plate right now."

"As long as I'm getting my pitch and I'm putting a good swing on it, anything can happen, but right now, I just seem to be hitting the right pitch."

Overall, it was an improvement on offense for the club though. After recording just four hits on Thursday, Arizona put up 13 on Friday.

BULLPEN NOTES

Morgan Earman made his first appearance of the season. In two innings, he surrendered two hits and two walks, but did not give up a run.

Austin Schnabel tried to make his case to be the guy who replaces Medel. He went 2 2/3 innings, and only gave up one hit and an unearned run. Lopez said after the game that Schnabel will be one of a couple guys that get a look to start the second game of the ASU series next weekend.

The Wildcats will look to salvage a game against the Trojans on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for noon. Tyger Talley will start even though he left his start last weekend with arm numbness.