California State University at Northridge
22-13
BYU
17-19
Yusuke Akitoshi Drives in Six Runs in Matadors' 10-8 Win over BYU
4/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.-
CSUN Baseball (22-13) earned its second consecutive come-from-behind victory, erasing a late six-run deficit to down BYU (17-19) 10-8 on Monday afternoon at Matador Field. Yusuke Akitoshi hit a two-run, game-winning home run in the eighth, leaving him with a career-high six RBI in the win.
A day after rallying to defeat #13 UC Santa Barbara, CSUN staged another impressive comeback at Matador Field. After BYU scored four in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to 8-2, the Matadors would quickly answer back with two runs in the seventh to chip away at the lead.
With two outs and runners at first and second, Akitoshi rifled a double just fair down the right field line that scored Nick Blaser and Ryan Raslowsky, cutting the BYU lead to 8-4.
After Conner O'Neil retired the Cougars in order in the eighth, CSUN continued to apply the pressure on the Cougars. Nolan Flashman led off the frame with a single and Spencer O'Neil worked a walk bringing Albee Weiss to the plate. Weiss followed with a three-run blast to left field to trim the lead to 8-7.
Later in the inning, the Matadors would score again with a clutch two-out base hit off the bat of Raslowsky. The senior singled in Elias Orona from second base to square the game at 8-8.
Akitoshi stepped up to the plate next, with four runs batted in already in the contest. The junior came through again with a no-doubt home run off the scoreboard in right field to give the Matadors the lead at 10-8.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cougars threatened with runners at first and second base with two outs but O'Neil induced an Eric Urry groundout to second to end the game.
Akitoshi's home run to right was his first career home run as a Matador. The junior went 3-for-6 in the win with each of his three hits resulting in two runs for the Matadors.
Earlier in the contest, Akitoshi drove in the first two runs of the game with a double to left field that scored Raslowsky and William Colantono that gave CSUN a 2-0 lead in the third.
BYU quickly erased the 2-0 deficit with two runs of its own in the fourth. The Cougars took the lead by plating two more in the sixth and extended their lead with four more in the seventh.
Freshman Joe Ryan made his first career start in the contest, tossing four innings, striking out five and allowing two runs.
The Matadors return to Big West Conference play when they travel to Hawai'i for the start of a three-game set on Friday. First pitch is slated for 9:35 p.m. PT.
Photo Courtesy of BHEPhotos
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Neil, Conner (3-2)
L: MAHONEY, Kolton (3-4)
Batting:
2B: LUND, Brennon 1 ; ROBINSON, Dillon 1 ; SHAVER, Colton 1 ; URRY, Eric 2
HR: SHAVER, Colton 1
RBI: NIELSEN, Hayden 1 ; ROBINSON, Dillon 1 ; SHAVER, Colton 2 ; URRY, Eric 3 ; WILSTEAD, Cole 1
SH: WHITNEY, Derrick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LUND, Brennon 1 ; NIELSEN, Hayden 1 ; CHAUNCEY, Tanner 1 ; ROBINSON, Dillon 2 ; SHAVER, Colton 2 ; URRY, Eric 1
SB: LUND, Brennon 1 ; NIELSEN, Hayden 1
PO: URRY, Eric 1
Batting:
2B: Akitoshi, Yusuke 2 ; Orona, Elias 1
HR: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1
RBI: Raslowsky, Ryan 1 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 6 ; Weiss, Albee 3
SH: Orona, Elias 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Raslowsky, Ryan 3 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Flashman, Nolan 1 ; O'Neil, Spencer 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1 ; Blaser, Nick 1 ; Orona, Elias 1 ; Colantono, William 1
SB: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Toerner, Justin 1
HBP: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Blaser, Nick 1
