{"id":713387,"date":"2026-05-31T06:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/713387\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T06:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T06:09:39","slug":"andrew-lamb-draws-on-mlb-roots-helps-usc-rout-lamar-in-regional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/713387\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Lamb draws on MLB roots, helps USC rout Lamar in regional"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLLEGE STATION, Texas\u00a0\u2014\u00a0USC\u2019s Andrew Lamb<\/a> is too young to remember his father Mike\u2019s five postseason home runs in the majors. Yet, his dad has shown them to him more than a few times over the years.<\/p>\n

With his dad at Blue Bell Park after taking a red-eye flight from Los Angeles, Andrew delivered a 421-foot blast that his dad and the USC Trojans<\/a> won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n

Lamb\u2019s majestic, three-run blast helped USC rout Lamar 19-6<\/a> to keep the Trojans alive at the College Station Regional.<\/p>\n

\u201cOff the bat, it was crushed,\u201d USC center fielder Walter Urbon<\/a>, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, said of Lamb\u2019s homer. \u201cWe were like, \u2018It was so far gone.\u2019 Then \u2026 you\u2019re yelling and screaming and just enjoying the energy in the moment and cheering for him and everything. It was beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Trojans (44-16) had plenty to celebrate after scoring a season high for runs. Lamar (34-27) had never given up more than 16 runs in 39 previous NCAA regional games.<\/p>\n

Lamb finished two for four with a walk and four RBIs. Adrian Lopez, who opened the scoring with a two-run home run, also finished a triple shy of the cycle.<\/p>\n

USC coach Andy Stankiewicz<\/a> pulled some of his starters as the Trojans pulled away, but he let Lopez and Urbon chase the cycle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talked about it,\u201d Urbon said of the cycle. \u201cI think after my third hit somebody said it to me, and I had no clue. It was in the back of my head for my next at-bat until I got back in the box, and then I forgot about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have been cool. We were making jokes about theoretical possibilities and whatever hit, like keep running or fall. Just get to third.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Trojans, who lost their opener Friday night to fall into the losers\u2019 bracket, advanced to play Sunday at 1 p.m. They\u2019ll face Texas State, which lost to Texas A&M 17-2 on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Trojans jumped to a 16-0 lead before Lamar scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth. USC scored five in the first and two in the second. Urbon\u2019s grand slam highlighted a five-run rally in the fourth. Needing a triple to complete the cycle, Urbon capped a four-run rally in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly.<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, the most impressive blast was the one Lamb hit in the first.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always good, a proud dad moment for sure,\u201d Mike Lamb said of his son\u2019s 11th home run of the season. \u201cI know what it feels like to be in the box and just to hit a ball like that and the relief that it\u2019s going to be a base hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then for it to be a home run, it\u2019s a great feeling running around the bases. I haven\u2019t forgotten what that feels like. So for him to feel it, it\u2019s pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

After watching his daughter Brooklyn win a CIF softball title with JSerra on Friday night, former Astro Mike Lamb caught a red-eye to see his son Andrew play for USC in the College Station Regional. Lamb, who hit 69 homers in the majors, is a proud dad.@USC_Baseball<\/a> #Astros<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/b384Z2P6r8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) May 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mike Lamb<\/a> hit 69 home runs over parts of 10 seasons in the majors. He added five more in the playoffs. He hit his first MLB postseason home run in Game 1 of the 2004 National League Championship Series for the Astros three days before Andrew was born. Andrew was only 4 days old when his dad hit his second home run of the 2004 NLCS.<\/p>\n

Andrew had barely celebrated his first birthday six days before Mike homered in the 2005 World Series.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if I was old enough to remember being there, but yeah I\u2019ve seen them a couple of times,\u201d Andrew Lamb said. \u201cHe likes to show off a little bit, but rightfully so. The guy made it. I respect him for it. It\u2019s good to follow him along the same path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Lamb had a good excuse for missing the Trojans\u2019 loss Friday night. He was in California watching his youngest of three kids, Brooklyn, win a CIF softball title with JSerra<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The elder Lamb then boarded a red-eye for Houston. He arrived in Houston at 6 a.m., rented a car and drove down to College Station.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been there every step of the way,\u201d Andrew Lamb said of his dad. \u201cHe\u2019s helped me out mentally, physically, training, everything. It\u2019s my dad. It\u2019s great to have him, but with him always in the stands it always gives me an extra confidence boost. For him to fly out like that is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mike Lamb definitely liked what he saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always tell [Andrew] that he\u2019s better than me at the same age,\u201d Mike Lamb said. \u201cIt\u2019s starting to even out now that he\u2019s 21, but yeah, I don\u2019t know that I hit too many balls like that ever. So he\u2019s doing well. I\u2019m very proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n