Los Angeles, CA- Stanford trailed 3-1 in the top of the third when Andrew Daschbach hit a two-out, two-run home run down the right field line to give the Cardinal a 5-3 lead over USC.
USC was held scoreless the rest of the way as No. 2 Stanford opens the series with an 8-3 win Friday night at Dedeaux Field.
The Stanford offense finished with 14 hits and scored seven runs after being down early. Kyle Stowers and Duke Kinamon both finished 3-for-5 with two runs and a double.
Stanford took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Brandon Wulff beat out an infield single, scoring Kyle Stowers from third base. USC catcher C.J. Stubbs singled up the middle to bring in Brady Shockley and tie it at one in the bottom of the first inning.
The Trojans were not done as Ben Ramirez tripled to right field to bring home Stubbs and Matthew Acosta for a 3-1 lead. Stanford responded in the next inning with two runs to tie it, 3-3.
A sacrifice fly to left by Maverick Handley gave Stanford a 6-3 lead. The Cardinals added a run in the 8th inning on another sacrifice fly. Kinamon singled in a run in the ninth to make it 8-3.
Game No. 2 of the three-game series will be Saturday at 6 p.m. Will Matthiessen is expected to start for Stanford against Isaac Esqueda for USC.
