California State University at Northridge
19-7, 0-1
Cal State Fullerton
13-12, 1-0
Matadors Fall Late to Cal State Fullerton 5-3
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-
CSUN Baseball (19-7, 0-1 Big West) could not overcome five Cal State Fullerton (13-12, 1-0 Big West) runs scored over the final three innings on Friday, as the Matadors dropped the opener of Big West Conference play 5-3 at Matador Field. Calvin Copping pitched six innings, allowing two runs, but a late Titan rally spoiled a strong start for the junior.
Copping kept the Fullerton bats scoreless for most of his start including escaping a two-out, bases loaded jam in the fifth inning. The right-hander stranded the three base runners by striking out Dalton Blaser to the end the threat.
"He did a nice job," said Head Coach Greg Moore about Copping's outing on the mound. "He battled just like in his last start and stayed in [the game] for a long time."
CSUN cracked the run column first in its half of the second inning. Yusuke Akitoshi singled to lead off the frame and he moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Blaser. Albee Weiss followed next with a double to left field to bring home Akitoshi for the game's first run.
Two innings later, Weiss picked up another clutch hit by singling home Dylan Alexander from second base with two outs to give his team a 2-0 advantage.
The Matadors kept the Titans scoreless until the top of the seventh. Copping, already over 100 pitches on the game, came back out for the start of the frame and gave up back-to-back doubles that cut the CSUN lead to 2-1.
After Copping was lifted from the game, Conner O'Neil entered the fray and allowed an RBI triple by David Olmedo-Barrera and a Tyler Steib RBI groundout that gave the Titans their first lead at 3-2.
Fullerton added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings to push the lead to 5-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
CSUN looked to stage a rally of its own in the ninth, as Blaser began the frame with a single and would come around to score on a Weiss double down the left field line.
Down 5-3, the Matadors would not get any closer, however as the next three batters were retired on strikeouts to end the game.
In the loss, Weiss picked up his first career three-hit performance to go along with a personal best three runs batted in.
"Albee had some good at bats," said Head Coach Greg Moore. "In his first at bat he saw a lot of pitches and he put himself in a situation to hit pitches that was repeated later in the game. He did a good job all day of simplifying his approach."
Freshman Joe Ryan made his Matador debut in the contest and pitched effectively by throwing a shutout ninth inning.
CSUN resumes its three-game series with Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon at Matador Field. First pitch between the Matadors and Titans is slated for 2 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of BHEPhotos
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thomas Eshelman (3-2)
L: O'Neil, Conner (2-2)
S: Tyler Peitzmeier (9)
Batting:
2B: Tyler Stieb 1 ; Dalton Blaser 1 ; Scott Hurst 1 ; A.j. Kennedy 1 ; Josh Vargas 1 ; Tanner Pinkston 1
3B: Davi Olmedo-Barrera 1
HR: Josh Estill 1
RBI: Davi Olmedo-Barrera 1 ; Tyler Stieb 1 ; Josh Estill 1 ; Josh Vargas 1 ; Tanner Pinkston 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Davi Olmedo-Barrera 1 ; Josh Estill 1 ; A.j. Kennedy 1 ; Josh Vargas 1 ; Tristan Hildebrandt 1
HBP: A.j. Kennedy 1
Batting:
2B: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Alexander, Dylan 1 ; Weiss, Albee 2
RBI: Weiss, Albee 3
SH: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Blaser, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexander, Dylan 1 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Blaser, Nick 1
