Miller Hits Grand Slam, Pettorini Homers Twice in USC Series Finale

Sunday, April 6

Irvine, Calif.

4:00 P.M. ET/1:00 P.M. PT

Ohio State

8-20, 2-10

USC

20-11, 9-6

Ohio State

USC

Miller Hits Grand Slam, Pettorini Homers Twice in USC Series Finale

4/6/2025 8:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. – Despite a late lead, the Ohio State baseball team (8-20, 2-10 Big Ten) was defeated by USC (20-11, 9-6 Big Ten), 10-9, in the teams' series finale on Sunday.

Game Recap

With two outs in the top of the first, Tyler Pettorini went yard, hitting his team-best eighth home run of the season to give the Buckeyes to early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Trojans took the lead, 3-1, after a sacrifice fly and a two-RBI double.
Lee Ellis led off with a single through the left side in the top of the third. Pettorini stepped up to the plate next and he sent the ball 411 feet out of the park for his second homer of the day, tying the score, 3-3.
An RBI single and a bases-loaded walk from the Trojans in the bottom of the third put them back in the lead, 5-3.
Reggie Bussey walked to lead off the fourth inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a sac bunt from Maddix Simpson. A sac fly from Trey Lipsey sent Bussey home to put the Buckeyes within one run of the lead, 5-4.
The Trojans hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend their lead, 8-4.
In the top of the sixth, Bussey led off with a walk. A double from Simpson plated Bussey to put the Buckeyes within three, 8-5. Lipsey was up next, and he singled to right field. Ellis reached on a fielder's choice to keep two runners on the bases for the Buckeyes. Pettorini was then walked to load the bases. Ryan Miller was up next and he went yard, clearing the bases on a grand slam to give Ohio State the one-run lead, 9-8.
The Buckeyes held the Trojans scoreless until the bottom of the ninth, when a solo home run tied the score, 9-9. USC walked it off with an RBI single to win the game, 10-9, and sweep the series.

Buckeyes by the Numbers

This is the third career game with two home runs for Pettorini. He led the Buckeyes with three hits.
Ellis and Simpson each added two hits.
Miller had a team-high four RBIs, and Pettorini had three.
Gavin Kuzniewski (3-2) took the loss on the mound. He gave up two runs on one hit in 1.2 innings pitched.

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