Penn State falls to USC Trojans 11-6 in rubber match

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The USC Trojans scored five runs in the top of the third inning to take the series finale over the Penn State Nittany Lions by a score of 11-6 on Sunday. With the win, the Trojans took the series victory over the Nittany Lions by two games to one.

Penn State left-handed pitcher Logan Olson retired the first seven batters of the game before USC rattled off six unanswered runs.

Nittany Lions’ shortstop Ryan Weingartner cut the deficit to one with an opposite-field grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning to make it a 6-5 game, but it would not be enough in the end.

Weingartner went 2-for-3 today and had a stolen base on top of his performance at the plate. He is five stolen bases away from the program’s single-season record, which is currently held by Kyle Hannon, who had 27 in 2023.

“I would expect him to get that,” Penn State head coach Mike Gambino remarked, “and I would expect it if we can continue the way we recruit for the next couple of years.”

Weingartner also drew two walks today, and his 0.424 on-base percentage is now the second-highest on the team.

“I think [Weingartner] has the ability to be a premium offensive player,” Gambino stated.

Penn State right fielder Cohl Mercado left the game in the top of the ninth inning after a collision at the wall. Gambino spoke about his willingness to compete through injury.

“He’s as tough and as competitive of a kid as I’ve ever been around,” stated Gambino. “So for him to say something’s hurt him, it’s really hurting him.”

The Nittany Lions went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, compared to the Trojans’ 6-for-14 in that situation.

“I think we do have to do a better job with our approach,” Gambino asserted. “You can feel [the batters] just trying to do too much, but you just gotta do what the situation calls for.”

The Nittany Lions are now 22-12 and will continue their homestand against Delaware on Tuesday. Penn State is now 7-7 at home and 51-36 in the Mike Gambino era.

Penn State is now 10-8 in conference play and is now in seventh place in the Big Ten going into Week 10 of the college baseball season.

With the defeat, the Nittany Lions have now lost their third Big Ten and overall series of the 2025 season.

Penn State was playing this weekend in hopes of winning over the NCAA Baseball Selection Committee. Despite coming up short, the Nittany Lions still played against an impressive Trojans team that prepared them for the postseason.

“We’re in playoff baseball, we know that,” Gambino remarked, “and this weekend, against a quality team like that is something you can match up in a Regional or a Super Regional.”

Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.