LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Southern California erupted for four runs in the first inning and never looked back, routing Nevada 8-0 on Thursday night at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.

The Trojans improved to 39-12, while the Wolf Pack fell to 21-22.

Right-hander Mason Edwards started for Southern California and worked six scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out eight. He was followed by Henry Chabot, Ben Cushnie and Rohan Kasanagottu, who combined for three innings of one-hit relief. Cushnie got the final two outs of the seventh, and Kasanagottu worked a perfect ninth.

Southern California’s offense struck quickly. Adrian Lopez opened the bottom of the first with a home run to left field. After a strikeout, Kaito Takeuchi doubled to center. With one out, Jack Basseer launched a two-run homer to left, scoring Takeuchi. Andrew Lamb followed with a solo shot to right center, making it 4-0.

Nevada starter Mason Brainard took the loss after allowing four earned runs on four hits in two-plus innings. He walked two and struck out two.

The Trojans added a run in the second. Marco Martinez walked, moved to second on a walk to Lopez and scored on Isaac Cadena’s single through the right side.

Southern California broke the game open in the third. Basseer led off with a double down the left-field line. After a groundout moved him to third, William Carpentier’s groundout to shortstop brought him home. Martinez walked again, and Walter Urbon followed with a two-run homer to right, extending the lead to 8-0.

Nevada threatened in the seventh. With one out, Chase Doyle walked and Gavin Waller doubled down the left-field line, putting runners at second and third. After a walk to Ryan Metcho loaded the bases, Cushnie relieved Chabot and struck out Jake Harvey and forced Josh Dobie to strike out, then got a lineout from Jayden Kwon to end the inning.

The Wolf Pack again put two runners on in the ninth. Waller doubled to lead off, and after a strikeout, Harvey walked. But Dobie grounded into a fielder’s choice and Kwon grounded into another to end the game.

Nevada managed seven hits, including two doubles each from Waller and Matt Yamaguchi and a single from Kyle Cruz Jr. and Trent Quiban. But the Wolf Pack left seven runners on base and struck out 14 times.

Southern California’s offense totaled nine hits. Basseer had two doubles and a home run, driving in two runs. Lopez homered and singled. Urbon homered and drove in two. Lamb homered. Cadena had an RBI single. Takeuchi doubled and scored twice.

The Trojans defense did not commit an error. Nevada had no errors.

The game was the first of a three-game series. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at the same venue.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southern California 7, Nevada 3. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Trojans a 76.70 percent probability to win. Southern California was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 4.5.