The Ducks dropped the second game of a three-game series to USC, falling to the Trojans 14-9 in Los Angeles.

Kyle Kasser finished with five of the Ducks’ 12 hits, however, that would not be enough against the offensive onslaught put on by USC on Saturday evening.

Tim Susnara started the scoring in the second inning with a home-run to give the Ducks the early 2-0 lead. Following Susnara’s blast, Kyle Kasser and Morgan McCullough each drove in a run to give the Ducks an early 4-0 lead.

Matt Mercer gave the lead right back to the Trojans, allowing five runs in the bottom half of the second inning. The sophomore lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing 7 earned runs on 9 hits.

The back-and-forth battle continued in the fourth inning when Kasser singled in A.J. Balta and Spencer Steer brought home Jake Bennett on a sacrifice fly.

That would be the last time the Ducks would hold onto the lead, though. USC scored another four runs in the bottom of the fifth, followed by two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Kasser’s five hits is a season high for the Ducks — the Brea, California, native drove in two runs while also scoring twice.

Saturday’s loss, the Ducks eighth in their last nine games, sets up a rubber match against USC on Sunday. Cole Stringer is expected to be on the mound for the Ducks.

Follow Cole Kundich on Twitter @CKundich

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