CORVALLIS, Oregon (AP) — Ethan Hedges hit two solo home runs and USC defeated Saint Mary’s 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the championship round of the Corvallis Regional.

The Gaels (36-25) will play an elimination game on S unday against Oregon State, with the winner needing to defeat USC twice to win the double-elimination regional.

Hedges gave the Trojans a 1-0 lead with a one-out home run in the bottom of the first inning.

Saint Mary’s went ahead on a two-run home run by Diego Castellanos in the second inning. The Gaels made it 3-1 when Aide Taurek homered to lead off the fourth.

USC tied it in the bottom of the inning when Augie Lopez blasted a two-run homer to right-center field and Hedges’ one-out homer in the fifth gave the Trojans the lead for good.

Richard Tejeda delivered an RBI single in the sixth for a 5-3 lead.

Cody Kashimoto’s sacrifice fly in the eighth got the Gaels within 5-4 but Maximo Martinez got the run back for USC with an RBI-single in the bottom of the inning.

Related Articles

Saint Mary’s Gaels begin road to College World Series vs. Oregon State

Will this Rockets forward with Bay Area ties get a chance to face the Warriors?

Todd Golden celebrates Final Four berth with his Saint Mary’s mentors

Florida’s Todd Golden ‘pinching myself’ in return for NCAA regionals

Saint Mary’s unable to upset No. 2 Alabama for Sweet 16 spot, 80-66

USC’s Caden Hunter pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season. Starter Mason Edwards (3-0) got the win, allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

John Damozonio (4-3) took the loss for Saint Mary’s, which notched its first NCAA tournament victory in team history on Friday.

USC (37-21) advances to the championship round, a win away from the super regionals.

___

AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports