Matadors Fall, 7-4, to Cal State Fullerton in Big West Opener

Friday, April 1

Fullerton, CA

7:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

20-6, 0-1

Cal State Fullerton

14-11, 1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	4	8	3
Cal State Fullerton	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	4	X	7	8	0

Photo by: CSUN Athletics

Matadors Fall, 7-4, to Cal State Fullerton in Big West Opener

4/1/2016 11:17:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

FULLERTON, CA---

CSUN Baseball (20-6, 0-1 BWC) dropped its Big West Conference opener to the Cal State Fullerton Titans (14-11, 1-0 BWC), 7-4, on Friday night at Goodwin Field. Fred Smith, Justin Toerner and Dylan Alexander each picked up two hits in the contest to lead CSUN while sophomore left-handed pitcher Kenny Rosenberg tossed 6.1 quality innings, striking out seven batters.

"Both teams did a good job of going punch for punch," said head coach Greg Moore. "They got a big swing with the home run that put them ahead and they got one late in the game. It was one or two pitches here and there that made the difference. I thought we played pretty consistent throughout the game. We got great at bats, and we got seven walks and eight hits. We did a nice job but we needed to make one or two more pitches."

Both teams battled in a back-and-forth affair on Friday but the game would be decided on a timely Titan hit in the eighth inning.

Fullerton scratched across a run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead on Rosenberg. The Matador southpaw surrendered a walk and single to start the inning, giving Josh Vargas an opportunity to bring home the game's first run on an RBI groundout.

The Titans looked to add to their lead in the third inning but Rosenberg got out of trouble with a heads up play on the mound. With a runner at third and two outs, Rosenberg tossed to third base, freezing the runner in between third and home plate. The Matador defense then combined to pick off the runner to end the inning.

The lefty battled out of another jam in the fourth as Fullerton threatened with runners at the corners and one out. Unfazed, Rosenberg went to work as he struck out Chris Hudgins swinging and he induced a force out at second base to end the threat.

With the game still 1-0 going to the top of the fifth, CSUN finally broke through against Titan pitching. After Elias Orona walked with one out, Smith hit a laser into center field. Yusuke Akitoshi stepped to the plate and drew a walk to load the bases and Branden Berry followed with a walk of his own to force in a run. Moments later, the Matadors received another productive bat as Toerner drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to right center.

The Titans though returned the favor in the sixth on a Jerrod Bravo RBI double to left field, evening the contest at 2-2. Later in the inning, a wild pitch moved Bravo to third base but Rosenberg again rallied to get out of the jam. A strikeout and a flashy over the shoulder catch from Berry down the first base line in foul territory ended the frame.

An inning later, Cal State Fullerton reclaimed the lead. Rosenberg got the first out with a flyout to center but Niko Pacheco hit a solo home run to left field to give the Titans a 3-2 edge.

The seesaw battle continued in the Matadors' eighth. Bumstead walked and Alexander singled to start the rally. Bobby Schuman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position and Albee Weiss delivered with a liner into left field to plate the tying run.

The Titans, however, would have an answer in their half of the eighth. Cal State Fullerton loaded the bases with two outs, and on a 3-2 pitch, Vargas roped a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases. On the play, a throwing error also allowed Vargas to come home with the seventh run for the Titans.

Looking up at a four-run deficit, CSUN kept fighting in the ninth. Berry lined a one-out triple to right center field and he later touched home plate on a wild pitch. Toerner connected on a double in the frame and Alexander earned a walk with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate. A comeback though would not be in the cards as Schuman went down swinging to end the game.

Receiving a no decision in the game, Rosenberg was solid again for CSUN. He scattered five hits and pitched into the seventh inning for the sixth-straight contest.

The Matadors continue their series with Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night at 6 p.m.