In dramatic fashion, USC swept its most recent Big Ten matchup against Ohio State, ending in a storybook walk-off single by sophomore infielder Dean Carpentier to pull out a crucial 10-9 win. The Trojans will hope to make similar magic happen against another conference rival: the Penn State Nittany Lions, who Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz’s squad will take on in a three-game series in University Park, Pennsylvania this weekend.

Including USC’s (21-11, 9-6 Big Ten) sweep of the Buckeyes (8-21, 2-10), the Trojans have largely impressed in their new conference this season. Getting swept dominantly by No. 15 Oregon (22-9, 10-5) in March was a low point, but USC sports series wins over Big Ten rivals Michigan (19-14, 8-7), Nebraska (15-18, 4-8), Indiana (19-14, 9-6) and now Ohio State.

Tuesday, USC faced off with Loyola Marymount University (16-17, 4-5 West Coast), winning 14-6 in the crosstown bout. The game marks the third straight during which the Trojans have scored double-digit runs against their opponents, demonstrating impressive offensive efficiency in the second half of the season. USC struggled to convert with runners in scoring position early in the year, but the Trojans’ clutch hitting is beginning to improve.

A large part of this offensive production is junior pitcher and infielder Ethan Hedges, whose electric two-way production has earned him casual Shohei Ohtani comparisons on the team’s social media. The numbers are veritably impressive; Hedges leads the team with a batting average of .415 and a 1.328 OPS, along with 11 home runs. On the mound, Hedges has earned an above-average 3.60 ERA and has been instrumental as a relief pitcher this season for the Trojans. 

Sophomore outfielder Brayden Dowd has put up a .331 batting average and 1.069 OPS. Dowd, who hit a three-run homer against California in the Pacific-12 semifinals last year to send USC to the conference championship game, has continued his dominance into his sophomore season. Most recently, he homered in the Trojans’ final win against Ohio State, recording four runs-batted-in during the game. 

However, unlike Ohio State, the Nittany Lions (21-10, 9-6) have had a successful season so far, currently one place above USC in the Big Ten standings. The rankings demonstrate the importance of this weekend’s series, as a Trojan series win would lift them above Penn State. 

USC only has four conference series remaining after this weekend, including one against its crosstown rivals in the No. 10 UCLA Bruins (26-6, 10-2), who currently lead the conference. 

Penn State junior outfielder Paxton Kling has led the way offensively for the Nittany Lions, starting all 31 games and recording an OPS of 1.096 and a batting average of .348. Right behind him are redshirt sophomore infielder Jack Porter and graduate first baseman Cole Wagner, who have put up averages of .327 and .316, respectively, to lead Penn State’s high-powered offense. 

Porter homered in Penn State’s most recent 15-10 win against Minnesota (13-17, 2-10). Wagner hit a two-run home run against the Gophers on April 4, also recording plating two with a triple that led to a 10-4 Penn State victory. 

Past this series, the Trojans will take on Hawai’i (23-8, 9-6 Big West) at LMU’s Page Stadium before returning to Irvine to play Gonzaga (15-14, 8-1 West Coast) in a three-game series. But, first, USC must try to take care of business against the Nittany Lions, hoping to leapfrog its rival in the Big Ten standings and cement its position in the top half of the conference before the Big Ten Tournament begins in late May. 

USC will take on Penn State on April 11 at 2:30 p.m, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. and April 13 at 10 a.m at the Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, Pennsylvania.