California State University Northridge Athletics
Saturday, May 14
Northridge, CA
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
30-16, 9-11
11
vs
8
UC Davis
16-28, 4-13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| CSUN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 11 | 12 | 0 |
Photo by: Laura Pierson
CSUN Baseball Holds Off UC Davis to Win 11-8, Clinch Series
5/14/2016 5:59:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, CA---
CSUN Baseball (30-16, 9-11 BWC) clinched its third Big West series victory of the season with an 11-8 triumph over UC Davis (16-28, 4-13 BWC) on Saturday afternoon at Matador Field. Eight Matadors posted hits on the day led by Dylan Alexander's three while Bobby Schuman drove in a career-high four RBI. Kenny Rosenberg became the first Matador in 10 seasons to reach the 100-strikeout milestone in a season with a seven-strikeout performance. With the 11-8 victory, CSUN has posted its second-straight 30-win season for the first time since the 2001 and 2002 teams accomplished the feat.Â
"We built a lead because early in the game we drove up the pitch count," said head coach Greg Moore. "We saw over 120 pitches in the first five innings and that will help you every time to get into a 'pen. We did that early but we didn't quite do that late. We have to understand that we didn't play well in the last part of this game. We have to come in tomorrow, get ourselves ready to do what we're here to do and that's DORS ball."Â
A day after coming back late to upend the Aggies on Friday, the Matadors led from start to finish in game two of the series. CSUN scored in each of the first four innings to build an eight-run advantage.
In the bottom of the first, the Matadors scored the game's first run on effective execution at the plate. Fred Smith led off the inning by working a walk and he moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Yusuke Akitoshi. Following a Branden Berry grounder to the right side that moved Smith to third, Albee Weiss deposited an RBI single to right field to bring in the run.Â
An inning later, the Matadors tacked on another run on a Smith fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Ahead 2-0, the Matadors scored two more runs in the third inning, capitalizing on Aggies miscues to go ahead by four. Weiss began the home half of the third by reaching first base on a strikeout wild pitch and he would come around to score later in the frame on a throwing error from pitcher Spencer Henderson. Schuman added to the lead with a sacrifice fly with one out to make it 4-0. Â
The Matadors would break the game wide open with a four-run fourth to widen the advantage to eight. Akitoshi hit an RBI double after the first two batters reached and Berry singled in another run on the next pitch. Two batters later, Akitoshi came in to score on a wild pitch and Nolan Bumstead capped off the scoring with a two-out RBI single to center field.Â
On the mound, Rosenberg cruised through the first five innings, scattering three hits but the Aggies chipped away at the Matadors' lead with a three-run sixth. Caleb Van Blake put the Aggies on the scoreboard with a two-out RBI single and Mason Novak doubled in two more runs with a drive down the left field line.Â
The Matadors would answer UC Davis' three runs with three of their own. With the bases loaded and one out, Schuman roped a double to right to clear the bases and extend the lead to 11-3.Â
Trailing by eight runs for the second time, the Aggies would not go away in the late innings. UC Davis put up a single tally in the seventh on a Cameron Olson sacrifice fly to get a run closer. Three more runs scored in the eighth as Brad Pluschkell and Tanner Bily drove in runs while another run came in on a passed ball.Â
In the ninth, the Aggies got a run closer on a two-out hit from Novak with two runners on base. Facing the tying run at the plate, Joe Ryan finally slammed the door on the Aggies' rally by striking out David Langer looking to end the game.Â
With seven strikeouts on the day, Rosenberg pushed his season total to 101, making him the first Matador to surpass the 100-strikeout pleateau in 10 seasons. Craig Baker is the last CSUN pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts in a season as he fanned 102 during the 2006 campaign.Â
The Matadors' three conference series wins are the most by a CSUN team since 2013.Â
CSUN looks for its second-straight series sweep on Sunday when the Matadors and Aggies conclude their three-game series beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to first pitch, the Matadors will honor their senior class for their contributions to the team during their respective collegiate careers. Before calling his final game of the season, CSUN broadcaster Ross Porter will also be honored in a special pre-game ceremony. AM 570's Petros Papadakis will throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the contest.Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF/INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballTeam Stats
Pitching:
W: Rosenberg, Kenny (5-1)
L: Henderson, Spencer (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Hooper, Ryan 1 ; Novak, Mason 1 ; Pluschkell, Brad 1
RBI: Bily, Tanner 1 ; Olson, Cameron 1 ; Van Blake, Caleb 1 ; Novak, Mason 3 ; Pluschkell, Brad 1
SF: Olson, Cameron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bily, Tanner 1 ; Diaz, Ignacio 2 ; Van Blake, Caleb 2 ; Novak, Mason 1 ; Pluschkell, Brad 2
SB: Bily, Tanner 1 ; Van Blake, Caleb 1
HBP: Hooper, Ryan 1
Batting:
2B: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Schuman, Bobby 1 ; Orona, Elias 1
RBI: Smith, Fred 1 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Berry, Branden 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1 ; Schuman, Bobby 4
SH: Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1
SF: Schuman, Bobby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Fred 2 ; Akitoshi, Yusuke 1 ; Berry, Branden 1 ; Weiss, Albee 2 ; Toerner, Justin 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 2 ; Alexander, Dylan 1 ; Orona, Elias 1
SB: Berry, Branden 1 ; Orona, Elias 2
HBP: Weiss, Albee 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
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