USC baseball is going to have to take the hard way to the College World Series.
After winning the opener of their NCAA Tournament Super Regional, the Trojans’ momentum met a stronger opposing force Saturday.
North Carolina ace Jason DeCaro shut down one of the hottest offenses in college baseball during the fifth-seeded Tar Heels’ 4-0 victory in Game 2 at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
By logging the first complete-game shutout in a Super Regional elimination game since Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker threw a no-hitter against Duke in 2019, DeCaro stifled an offense that had combined for 64 runs over its previous five games.
Sweating through his jersey in the final innings while still reaching 95 mph on his fastball, DeCaro gave up only two hits and one walk while also hitting a batter. The junior right-hander piled up eight strikeouts, getting Kevin Takeuchi to chase a third strike on a curveball to end the game.
USC (48-17) managed just five baserunners, none reaching second base.
“Quite honestly, it was all about Jason DeCaro today,” USC coach Andy Stankiewicz told reporters. “He threw a heck of a game.”
The end of the Trojans’ five-game postseason winning streak means that they must prevail in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday to advance to their first College World Series since 2001.
“This is probably the most important Sunday that they will ever play tomorrow,” Stankiewicz said, “so we will be ready.”
While Trojans right-hander Grant Govel gave up only one run in five innings — on Colin Hynek’s solo homer in the second inning — the bullpen faltered, allowing three more runs.
What it means
The most decorated program in college baseball history has some more work to do to get back to the game’s biggest stage for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Who will start Game 3 on the mound for the Trojans?
Options include freshman right-hander Diego Velasquez, who started the third game of USC’s regional, or sophomore right-hander Andrew Johnson, who delivered 3 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief against the Tar Heels on Friday.
Stankiewicz suggested it could be a pitching-by-committee approach.
“It will be everybody,” he said. “We can’t go too long with too many.”
Turning point
A USC bullpen that had been a strength in the opener of this series struggled mightily.
After relieving Govel to start the sixth inning, Sax Matson gave up a home run on only his third pitch, sinking the Trojans into a 2-0 hole. He allowed another run in the inning before getting pulled after issuing a leadoff walk in the seventh.
MVP: Jason DeCaro
In what was likely his final start in his home stadium, DeCaro pitched the game of a lifetime.
Among those who serenaded him with cheers after the final out was former North Carolina men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, who thrust both arms into the air in triumph.
Up next
The teams will meet again at noon PT on Sunday in a game that decides who gets to go to Omaha, Neb. The game will be broadcast by ESPN.
