Big Ten Tournament: Day 4

USC defeated Michigan State 7-0 in the Big Ten Tournament, with Trojan pitcher Mason Edwards (8-0, 1.49 ERA) recording six strikeouts in four innings before a rain delay forced his exit. The USC bullpen, led by Andrew Johnson and Chase Herrell, held Michigan State scoreless after Edwards, while the Spartans’ pitching staff struggled, with J.D. Greeley (0-3, 7.39 ERA) lasting just one inning. USC’s offense capitalized on two-out opportunities, scoring all seven runs off doubles by Adrian Lopez and Abbrie Covarrubias, along with a triple by Dean Carpentier. Michigan State managed only one baserunner after the rain delay, with Ryan McKay reaching base in the sixth before Khamaree Thomas ended the threat. USC will likely face UCLA in the semifinals, though the Bruins’ game against Purdue was delayed until at least 6:00 p.m., pushing Nebraska’s matchup with Michigan to a potential 10:00 p.m. start. In Game 2, UCLA defeated Purdue 4-3 in a rain-affected contest that began at 7:05 p.m. after a four-hour suspension. UCLA’s Wylan Moss (5-1, 2.38 ERA) outpitched Purdue’s J.Thomas Howard (6-0, 4.12 ERA), with the Bruins’ offense overcoming early struggles to take the lead. Purdue’s Greg Goff’s pitching rotation faltered, as Howard lasted only five innings, allowing UCLA’s clutch hitting to secure the victory. The Big Ten Tournament’s scheduling decisions drew criticism, as the rain delay in Game 2 left fans waiting unnecessarily, particularly Nebraska supporters who were left uncertain about their team’s game time. Despite the chaos, USC’s dominant performance and UCLA’s late resilience set the stage for an intense semifinal round.