California State University at Northridge
14-5
George Washington
8-6
CSUN Outlasts George Washington 9-8
3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-
CSUN Baseball (14-5) took the finale of a three-game weekend series from George Washington (8-6) by the final of 9-8 on Sunday afternoon at Matador Field. Nick Blaser had a 3-for-4 day at the plate and also drove in three runs in the win.
The Matadors and Colonials combined to score 17 runs, compile 21 hits and draw 15 walks in a wild affair on Sunday. The teams also used 11 pitchers combined in the contest.
"It is the bend but not break mentality," said Head Coach Greg Moore about the game. "Even though we weren't sharp, we did a good job of continuing to play and continuing to work."
The Colonials struck first by scoring two early runs off CSUN starter Andrew Weston in the top of the first inning.
CSUN answered back quickly in its half of the first, as they scored multiple runs by taking advantage of opportunities.
The first four CSUN batters reached on walks, including Yusuke Akitoshi who drew a walk to force in a run with the bases loaded.
Another run came home on a GW error off the bat of Dylan Alexander. Up next, Blaser singled in a third CSUN run with a hit to right field. Albee Weiss followed with a sacrifice fly and three batters later, Chester Pak forced in fifth run after being hit by a pitch.
The Matadors scored five times in the first inning on only one hit.
Blaser hit another RBI single in the second inning to extend the lead and Pak sacrifice bunted in a seventh CSUN run in the third.
After GW closed to within 7-4 by scoring two runs in the top half of the fourth, CSUN roared back with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame.
After Ryan Raslowsky led off the inning with a single, Akitoshi brought him home with a triple to deep right field. Blaser added to the advantage with his third RBI single of the game to score Akitoshi.
The Colonials chipped away at the CSUN 9-4 lead by scoring three runs in the fifth, and another in the sixth to cut the deficit to 9-8.
The Matador bullpen, however, would shut the door over the next three innings. Angel Rodriguez came on in relief and recorded the final nine outs of the game including retiring the side in order in the ninth to earn the save.
"I couldn't have [pitched three scoreless innings] without my defense," said Rodriguez. "I did my job and my defense was with me every pitch of the way."
Senior Louis Cohen earned his first victory since 2013 by tossing 1.1 innings in relief. Cohen allowed three runs, where were unearned in the victory.
CSUN returns to Matador Field on Tuesday afternoon for a midweek game with Pepperdine. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cohen, Louis (1-0)
L: Brady Renner (0-1)
S: Rodriguez, Angel (1)
Batting:
2B: Joey Bartosic 1 ; Bobby Campbell 1 ; Matt Cosentino 1
3B: Joey Bartosic 1
HR: Kevin Mahala 1
RBI: Joey Bartosic 2 ; Robbie Metz 1 ; Colin Gibbons-Fly 1 ; Brandon Chapman 1 ; Kevin Mahala 3
SF: Colin Gibbons-Fly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Joey Bartosic 1 ; Robbie Metz 2 ; Colin Gibbons-Fly 1 ; Andrew Selby 1 ; Brandon Chapman 1 ; Kevin Mahala 1 ; Eli Kashi 1
SB: Robbie Metz 1
CS: Robbie Metz 1 ; Matt Cosentino 1
Batting:
2B: Orona, Elias 1
3B: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1
RBI: Pak, Chester 2 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 2 ; Blaser, Nick 3 ; Weiss, Albee 1
SH: Pak, Chester 1 ; Blaser, Nick 1
SF: Weiss, Albee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pak, Chester 1 ; Toerner, Justin 1 ; Raslowsky, Ryan 2 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 3 ; Alexander, Dylan 1 ; Orona, Elias 1
SB: Orona, Elias 1
CS: Blaser, Nick 1
HBP: Pak, Chester 1 ; Raslowsky, Ryan 1
PO: Raslowsky, Ryan 1
