Matadors Fall to Pepperdine, 3-1

Tuesday, May 17

Northridge, CA

3:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

31-17

Pepperdine

26-21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Pepperdine	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	1
CSUN	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	1

Photo by: Paul Trafecanty

Matadors Fall to Pepperdine, 3-1

5/17/2016 7:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Baseball (31-17) dropped its home finale of the season to the Pepperdine Waves (26-21) by the final of 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon at Matador Field. Six different Matador pitchers made appearances in the game as Ray Diaz saw the most work out of the bullpen with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. CSUN came into the contest seeking its seventh-straight victory, but Pepperdine held the Matadors to five hits en route to earning the two-run victory.

In what turned into a staff day for both sides, the two teams combined to use 11 different pitchers in the contest. Senior Rayne Raven got the start for CSUN and worked three quality innings, scattering three hits while aNick Viola, Matt Campbell, Mathew Troupe, Angel Rodriguez and Diaz all saw action on the mound. The Matador staff held Pepperdine scoreless in eight of nine innings on the day but the Waves used a three-run fourth inning to seize control of the game.

The Matadors would score first in the game, plating a run in the third inning. After Pepperdine starter Easton Lucas stranded two CSUN base runners in the second, the Waves inserted Jonathan Pendergast into the contest in the third. CSUN immediately went to work on offense against Pendergast as Elias Orona and Yusuke Akitoshi worked walks and Branden Berry reached on a hit by pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Justin Toerner drew a seven-pitch walk to force in a run.

With the bases still loaded and two outs, Nolan Bumstead followed with a shot into right center that appeared as though it would drop in but center fielder Matt Gelalich made a diving catch, robbing the Matadors of extra runs.

In the top of the fourth, the Waves would strike back to take the lead. Raven limited Pepperdine to a pair of hits through the first three, but after giving up a leadoff single to Aaron Barnett, the Matadors made a pitching change on the mound. Viola entered the game and retired Brad Anderson before surrendering back-to-back hits. Ben Rodriguez evened the game at 1-1 with an RBI double down the right field line and Brandon Caruso hit a grounder to first that brought home another run. With two outs and a runner at third, Matt Crowder made it 3-1 with double to right.

Back on the mound for the Waves, Pendergast settled down quickly after his rough start. Pendergast retired 11 consecutive batters, holding CSUN hitless until the seventh inning.

The Matadors would threaten in each of the last three innings but Pepperdine would not give up the lead down the stretch. In the seventh, Fred Smith reached on an infield single with a runner on and two outs but Akitoshi was retired on a grounder to second. An inning later, two of the first three batters reached on singles, however, reliever Kiko Garcia forced Bumstead to hit into an inning-ending 5-3 double play.

CSUN attempted one final rally in the ninth as Dylan Alexander singled to start the frame with a grounder to short but Garcia would again receive another timely double play to erase runners off the base paths.

The Matadors again brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Orona reached on an error to short. With Smith at the plate, Garcia would get the final out on a flyball to left.

Despite going hitless in the contest, Orona reached safely on a walk, which extended his on base streak to 12 games. Toerner also extended his hit streak to eight games with a 1-for-3 effort at the plate.

Pitching in a career-high 3.1 innings, Diaz only allowed two hits on the day to go along with a strikeout. He had previously pitched a career-best 2.2 innings against Long Beach State on April 10.

Seniors Raven, Viola, Rodriguez, Akitoshi, Berry and Flashman all made their final appearance at Matador Field on Tuesday. Raven allowed a run and recorded a strikeout over three innings while Viola struck out one in an inning of work. Rodriguez tossed 0.2 shutout innings in the ninth. At the plate, Akitoshi reached on a walk in four plate appearances, Berry went 1-for-3 and Flashman picked up a walk.

The Matadors conclude the regular season with a seven-game road trip beginning Thursday at Purdue for the first of a four-game series. Game one is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. (PT).