Matadors Sweep UC Davis, Extend Winning Streak to Six

Sunday, May 15

Northridge, CA

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

31-16, 10-11

UC Davis

16-29, 4-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Davis	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	5	0
CSUN	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	X	4	11	2

Photo by: CSUN Athletics

Matadors Sweep UC Davis, Extend Winning Streak to Six

5/15/2016 5:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Baseball (31-16, 10-11 BWC) earned a 4-2 victory over UC Davis (16-29, 4-14 BWC) on Sunday afternoon at Matador Field. With the win, the Matadors extended their winning streak to six games, secured their second conference sweep in a row and posted their 21st victory at home this season. Elias Orona and Dylan Alexander each drove in a pair and Andrew Weston notched his team-leading seventh win of the year. As a team, the Matadors racked up 11 hits while the quartet of Branden Berry, Albee Weiss, Justin Toerner and Orona each recorded two-hit games.

"Today was important for us because we didn't play great in the second half of that game yesterday," said head coach Greg Moore. "The challenge for the team was to play better early but also to finish the game. I thought our work was much better and our minds were cleaner and clearer there late in the game."

Following an emotional ceremony highlighting the Matador senior class playing in their final conference game at Matador Field, CSUN went to work at the outset of the contest. Weston set the tone on the mound by retiring the first six batters consecutively as he gave the Matador bats an opportunity to come alive early.

Shortly after Berry was thrown out trying to score from second base on a single from Weiss to end the first, the Matadors bounced back with a two-run second inning. Toerner began the frame with a double down the right field line and Nolan Bumstead followed with a single to put runners at the corners with nobody out. Aggie starter Nat Hamby was able to retire the next two batters but Orona would come through with clutch two-run double to left field.

An inning later, the Matadors picked up another key two-out hit to double their lead. Back-to-back singles from Weiss and Toerner with two outs brought up Dylan Alexander. The Matador catcher deposited a shot into the gap in right center to bring in both runs, extending the advantage to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Weston continued to frustrate the UC Davis bats. Through five, Weston allowed just two base runners including one infield hit while only one base runner reached scoring position during that span.

UC Davis finally broke up the shutout in the sixth, cutting the Matadors' lead in half. Weston began the inning strong after setting down the first two batters on ground outs to third but the next five Aggies reached base in order. With the bases loaded, Caleb Van Blake pushed across a run after he was hit by a pitch and an infield single from Ryan Hooper drove in a second run.

The lead very well could have been trimmed to one on the Hooper hit if it not been for a strong defensive play on the infield. Coming from the shortstop position, Akitoshi dove and stopped the ground ball near second base, keeping the ball on the infield. The hustle play prevented a second run from coming in, keeping CSUN ahead 4-2.

After a pitching change on the mound, senior Nick Viola entered the game in a bases loaded, two-out jam and picked up a forceout at second base on a Pluschkell grounder to end the threat.

The CSUN bullpen would preserve the lead over the next three innings. Viola recorded the first two outs in the seventh and Mathew Troupe struck out Spencer Henderson with a runner on base to end the frame.

Conner O'Neil came on in the eighth attempting a six-out save for the second time in the series. The Aggies threatened in the top of the eighth after Cameron Olson hit a leadoff single and Ryan Hooper walked with two outs. O'Neil though would get out of trouble by forcing Pluschkell to hit into a fielder's choice out at second.

In the ninth, the right-handed stopper would retire the side in order to nail down his 10th save of the season.

Earning his seventh win of the season, Weston went 5.2 innings, scattering three hits and allowing two runs while striking out three. In nine starts this season, Weston has compiled a 4-2 record and a 2.29 ERA for the Matadors.

The Matadors extended their home record to 21-6 on the season with the victory, which is the most wins by a CSUN team at home since the 2001 team posted 22 victories at Matador Field. With the sweep, the Matadors have swept two Big West opponents for the first time since the 2013 campaign.

CSUN wraps up its home schedule on Tuesday afternoon at Matador Field against the Pepperdine Waves. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.