LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Andrew Johnson pitched five dominant innings of relief and Adrian Lopez homered and drove in three runs as Southern California defeated Purdue 11-4 on Sunday afternoon at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

Johnson entered in the third inning after the Boilermakers had jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. He allowed only one hit, struck out four and did not surrender a run over five innings, improving his record to 4-1. His performance was a sharp turnaround from his previous outing against Nebraska, when he gave up six earned runs in three innings.

The Boilermakers struck first with two home runs in the opening frame. After a walk and a balk, Avery Moore homered to center field, driving in two runs. Thomas Manias followed with a solo shot to center, giving Purdue a 4-0 lead.

Southern California answered in the bottom of the first. Isaac Cadena homered to center field, and later in the inning Andrew Lamb doubled to right field, driving in a run. Will Covarrubias then singled to left, scoring two more to tie the game at 4-4.

The Trojans took the lead in the third inning. Jack Basser homered down the left field line, making it 5-4. Later in the inning, a throwing error by Purdue pitcher Thomas Howard allowed an unearned run to score, extending the lead to 6-4.

Lamb added an RBI double in the fourth inning, and Basser scored on the play to make it 7-4. The game remained that way until the bottom of the eighth inning, when Southern California erupted for four runs.

The inning began with a single by Marcus Martinez. Cadena singled up the middle, advancing Martinez to third. Adrian Lopez then homered to center field, driving in three runs. Aurelio Lopez followed with a solo home run to right field, capping the scoring at 11-4.

Purdue’s Jake Kramer started and lasted three and two-thirds innings, allowing three earned runs. Jarvis Evans gave up one earned run in one and two-thirds innings, and Thomas Howard pitched two-thirds of an inning. Avery Moore provided the Boilermakers’ only other hit, a solo home run in the first inning.

For Southern California, Basser finished 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI. Lamb was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Cadena went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Sax Matson pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Purdue fell to 27-15 overall and 10-7 in Big Ten play. Southern California improved to 34-11 and 14-4 in conference.

The Boilermakers have lost three straight games, including the first two games of this series. They will host Southern Indiana on Wednesday before a three-game series against Murray State.

Southern California has won four consecutive games. The Trojans travel to UC Irvine on Tuesday before hosting Rutgers for a three-game series next weekend.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Purdue 8, Southern California 4, while Interstat’s ELO system gave the Trojans a 68.10 percent probability to win.