The Trojans haven't made it easy the last two games, but the undefeated season is still alive after USC Baseball notched a 4-3 win over Fordham (1-7) Saturday afternoon. The Trojans improve to 11-0, while right-hander Kyle Twomey moves to 3-0 after going 6 1/3 innings and allowing four hits and two runs. The Trojans had a 4-0 lead through six innings, but allowed two runs in the seventh and another in the eighth before junior closer Kyle Davis notched four outs to hold off the feisty Rams. The win comes after USC held off the Rams 3-2 on Friday night.

USC racked up nine hits, including six off Fordham starter Jimmy Murphy, who left after 4 2/3 innings. But just as important for the Trojans was their defense, which helped Twomey overcome allowing a leadoff runner in five innings. First baseman Jeremy Martinez made a diving grab to force a groundout for the second out in the ninth innings, while second baseman Dante Flores had a couple heads-up plays. "Defense was the big reason we won it," said head coach Dan Hubbs. "We just didn't give them pitches to do a lot once they got into scoring position." 

After pitching in relief last season, Twomey had his toughest outing of his three starts this season. "I obviously didn't have my best stuff today, but I was able to move my fastball and sink it," the junior left-hander said. 

On offense, the Trojans left 11 men on base, not fully executing chances to run away from the visiting Rams. Hubbs agreed, stating "we're leaving entirely too many guys (on base), and we're fortunate that we're playing good defense and pitching well enough to win." 

USC put a run on the board in the first inning, after leadoff man Bobby Stahel reached base, moved to third on a single by senior catcher Garrett Stubbs, then got driven home by a sacrifice fly from junior center fielder Timmy Robinson. 

The Trojans stranded a pair of runners in the first and again in the fourth, but held the Rams at bay. The Rams had a leadoff single in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Twomey found a way, either by strikeout or groundout, to grind his way through. "You have to try to do a little bit less rather than do a little bit much," Twomey said on working through innings. "I did a good job of staying within myself and pitching down in the zone.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Robinson led off with a hit-by-pitch, and was driven to third with a single from Flores. Lacey's single to left drove in Robinson, and junior designated hitter David Oppenheim walked to load the bases. After Fordham replaced their starter, Murphy, Southall smashed a single off relief pitcher Ben Greenberg right up the middle to bring home Flores and Lacey.  

The seventh inning was a dicey one for the Trojans. The Rams put a pair of runners on base against Twomey, who then exited the game for sophomore lefty Bernardo Flores. Flores immediately allowed a single to load the bases, and a chopper by Fordham's Joseph DeVito cut the deficit to 4-1. Jason Lundy hit a single shortly after, scoring a runner from third to pare the Trojans' lead down to 4-2 before Flores got Joseph Runco into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

After the Trojans stranded runners at first and third in the bottom of the seventh, sophomore reliever Jeff Paschke had a shaky eighth. The righty allowed a leadoff walk that was driven home, then had a wild pitch to leave runners at first and third with two outs. He was then subbed out for the closer Davis, and the junior right-hander needed one pitch to finish the inning after Fordham's Ryan Mahoney lined out to first.

In the ninth, Davis struck out the leadoff hitter before Martinez's diving grab secured a groundout. After hitting Runco with a pitch, a blooper by Fordham's Mark Donadio was snagged just in time to push it to first for the deciding out, giving Davis his fifth save of the season.

The Trojans will look to sweep Fordham on Sunday, facing the Rams at 12 pm once again at Dedeaux Field.