COLLEGE STATION — USC baseball lost 5-4 to Texas State in the NCAA Tournament opener on Friday night, May 30, 2026, at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park in College Station, Texas. Chase Mora hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning off USC closer Adam Troy, giving Texas State a 5-4 lead.

USC had taken a brief lead in the bottom of the eighth when Adrian Lopez hit a solo home run, making it 4-3. Earlier in the game, Abbrie Covarrubias hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning to put USC ahead 3-1. In the second inning, his grounder was booted by Texas State first baseman Jaquae Stewart, allowing Isaac Cadena to score and tie the game 1-1. Texas State initially led 1-0 after Mora hit a sacrifice fly in the second.

The Trojans tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth when Brady Boles hit a two-run home run. USC starting pitcher Grant Govel allowed three runs on four hits over 5⅔ innings, striking out six and walking two. Coach Andy Stankiewicz held ace Mason Edwards out of the game, planning to save him for a potential matchup against Texas A&M.

In the ninth inning, Maximo Martinez was charged with an error on a chopper hit by Justin Vossos to open the frame. After Vossos advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, Stankiewicz replaced reliever Andrew Johnson with closer Adam Troy. Mora’s go-ahead homer followed. Texas State’s Mora ended the game by making a diving catch of Dean Carpentier’s line drive with two outs and the potential tying run on second base.

USC finished the game 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Rashawn Galloway robbed Kevin Takeuchi of a run-scoring extra-base hit in the sixth inning by crashing into the wall to catch a towering fly ball.

USC will play Lamar University at 1 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, May 31, 2026, in an elimination game broadcast on ESPN+. The Trojans must win four consecutive games to advance to their first Super Regional since 2006.