California State University at Northridge
21-13, 2-7
#13 UC Santa Barbara
26-8, 4-2
The Matadors Rally to Defeat #13 UC Santa Barbara in Walk-Off Fashion
4/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-
CSUN Baseball rallied from a late deficit to upend #13 UC Santa Barbara in extra-innings by the final of 3-2 on Sunday afternoon at Matador Field. Spencer O'Neil hit a two-out, pinch-hit solo home run to nod the game at 2-2 and William Colantono hit a two-out, walk off RBI single to end the near four and a half hour marathon.
Down to their final out and trailing 2-1 in the ninth, Head Coach Greg Moore called on O'Neil to pinch hit for Elias Orona against Gaucho closer Robby Nesovic.
Nesovic, who had saved the previous two games of the series, retired the first two batters on groundouts. The UCSB closer, however, would not earn the save on Sunday. O'Neil belted the first Nesovic pitch into deep left field. Gaucho left fielder Cameron Newell backed to the wall, leaped but couldn't catch O'Neil's drive from sailing over.
"[Pinch-hitting O'Neil] gave us our best chance at an extra-base hit," said Moore. "He did a nice job of getting himself prepared in the dugout."
The pinch-hit home run sent the game into extra-innings. Both bullpens did an impressive job of holding the oppositions scoreless into the 13th inning. The CSUN bullpen stranded three runners and the UCSB staff held four on base.
In the home half of the 13th, the Matadors threatened with runners at second and third base with two outs. Already with two hits in the contest, Colantono hit a grounder just underneath the glove of second baseman Woody Woodward, allowing Yusuke Akitoshi to come on home with the winning run.
Earlier in the game, Rayne Raven started for CSUN and tossed six quality innings, allowing two runs.
The Gauchos cracked the scoring column first in their half of the second inning. Raven threw a pitch that got by Dylan Alexander's glove, which allowed Luke Swenson to score from third base.
CSUN erased the 1-0 deficit quickly in the bottom of the second. Colantono drove in an RBI single with two outs, scoring Akitoshi to tie the game at 1-1.
UCSB was able to break the tie in the fourth inning with Clay Fisher hitting a one-out double to score Swenson.
Although not as sharp as past starts, Raven minimized the damage throughout the afternoon, keeping the Matadors within striking distance. The right-hander stranded six Gaucho runners in the contest.
Angel Rodriguez hurled 5.2 shutout innings in relief, including pitching 3.2 scoreless innings in extra frames.
"To [pitch] on a Sunday is tough," said Moore about Rodriguez's performance. "It's an every day game and Angel really shows up every day ready to go. Hats off to him; its all preparation for Angel."
Colantono's walk off is the second of his career and the second in as many seasons. The junior hit a walk-off double versus Hawai'i in April of 2014.
O'Neil's pinch-hit home run was the first by any Matador since Todd Eskelin hit a pinch-hit long ball against Columbia in March 2009.
CSUN takes a break from conference play, as they host the BYU Cougars at Matador Field on Monday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of BHEPhotos
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cohen, Louis (2-0)
L: Kyle Nelson (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Woody Woodward 2 ; Luke Swenson 1 ; Clay Fisher 1
RBI: Clay Fisher 1
SH: Clay Fisher 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luke Swenson 2
SB: Peter Maris 1
Batting:
2B: Raslowsky, Ryan 1
HR: O'Neil, Spencer 1
RBI: O'Neil, Spencer 1 ; Colantono, William 2
SH: Raslowsky, Ryan 1 ; Pak, Chester 1 ; Toerner, Justin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Akitoshi, Yusuke 2 ; O'Neil, Spencer 1
