LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Mason Edwards continued his dominant start to the season with six overpowering innings, and Adrian Lopez drove in two early runs as the unbeaten Southern California Trojans defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 4-0 on Friday night at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

The game, organized by the Big 10, saw the Trojans (13-0) extend their perfect record behind a pitching staff that combined on a two-hit shutout. The Fighting Illini fell to 7-5.

The most important part of the game came immediately, as the Trojans seized control in the bottom of the first inning against Illinois starter Ben Plumley. After a walk to Isaiah Cadena, first baseman Adrian Lopez launched a two-run homer to left field. The Trojans were not done, adding another run later in the frame on an RBI single from Maximo Martinez to take a 3-0 lead before Illinois recorded its third out.

That early outburst proved more than enough for Edwards, Southern California’s top star. The right-hander was brilliant, striking out 11 over six scoreless innings while allowing only two hits and two walks. He set the tone by striking out the side in the second inning and worked out of his only significant jam in the fourth. After Illinois’ Michael Farina and Diego Contreras singled to put runners on the corners with no outs, Edwards induced an infield fly and two groundouts to escape unscathed.

Illinois’ best pitching came in relief. After Plumley went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, Sam Reed took over and threw three perfect innings, striking out three. The Illini bullpen kept the game within reach, but the offense could not solve the Trojans’ arms.

Southern California added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Lopez doubled, advanced to third on a fielding error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Takeuchi.

Gavin Lauridsen and Adam Troy finished the shutout for the Trojans with three perfect innings of relief, combining for one strikeout.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a high-scoring 7-6 victory for Southern California. The Trojans’ ELO probability to win was 61.20 percent.

Lopez led the Trojans’ offense, going 3 for 4 with the home run, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Martinez added two hits and an RBI.

For Illinois, Farina and Contreras accounted for the team’s only two hits.

The victory maintains Southern California’s flawless start, which includes recent series wins over Cal Poly and UC Irvine. Illinois arrived having won four of its last five, including a 14-6 victory at Albany on March 1.

The teams continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at the Sports Arena. Illinois returns home next week to face Western Illinois before opening Big 10 conference play against Minnesota. Southern California hosts Long Beach State on Tuesday before a midweek game against San Diego and a weekend series at Northwestern.