Matadors Drop Series Opener to Purdue, 5-0

Thursday, May 19

Purdue, IN

4:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

31-18

Purdue

8-43

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

Photo by: CSUN Athletics

Matadors Drop Series Opener to Purdue, 5-0

5/19/2016 7:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Baseball (31-18) was unable to overcome strong pitching and a season-high six errors in a 5-0 defeat to Purdue (8-43) on Thursday evening at Alexander Field. Dylan Alexander had two of the Matadors' seven hits in the contest while Elias Orona extended his on-base streak to 13 games with a walk. Joe Ryan pitched effectively in his first start since March 20, giving up four hits through five innings to go along with six strikeouts.

The Matador bats were unable to figure out Purdue starter Gavin Downs in the opener of a four-game non-conference series. Downs tossed a seven-hitter, blanking CSUN for just the fourth time this season.

Downs gave up a pair of one-out singles in both the first and second innings but kept CSUN off the scoreboard in each frame. In third, the Matadors threatened once more as Orona worked a one-out walk and Fred Smith singled to left field to put runners at first and second. Yusuke Akitoshi laid down a bunt to move runners up 90 feet bringing Branden Berry to the plate with two outs. Downs would get out of the jam, however, on a groundout to short.

Ryan kept the Matadors in the game throughout his five innings of work. He pitched around a pair of CSUN throwing errors coming from the left side of the infield in each of the first two innings and he retired the side in order in the third inning. Entering the fourth, he had set down five straight batters but he would surrender a leadoff hit to Stephen Kalina to start the inning.

Purdue took advantage of its first hit of the day quickly as Kyle Johnson roped a triple down the left field line to break the scoreless tie. Kyle Wood drove in a second Purdue run on a grounder to the right side that was mishandled at first base. Ryan escaped further trouble by forcing Daniel Sander to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to clear the bases.

Meanwhile, Downs continued to hold CSUN scoreless with stingy pitching. After Justin Toerner worked a four-pitch walk to lead off the fourth, Downs retired seven batters in a row. The Matadors broke the string on Toerner's second walk of the game in the top of the sixth with two outs. Alexander followed the walk with a single through the right side to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. CSUN would be turned away in the inning after Nolan Bumstead went down on strikes.

The Boilermakers added to their lead in the sixth on a double steal with runners at the corners and two outs. Johnson made it home safely on the play from third to put Purdue up 3-0.

In the seventh, Purdue added two insurance runs, capitalizing on three CSUN errors to build a five-run advantage. Facing Brett Carlson with a runner at second base and one out, Ray Diaz gave up a grounder to short. In what could have been the second out of the inning, two Matador throwing errors on the play allowed a run to score. Two batters later, Johnson reached on another error from the left side of the infield to plate Purdue's fifth run of the contest.

Downs kept CSUN off the scoreboard through eight but ran into trouble in the ninth. With two outs and nobody on, pinch hitter Rayne Raven picked up his first hit as a Matador with a single through the left side on a 2-2 pitch. Jose Ruiz followed with a pinch-hit single of his own through the right side to keep the game alive. Downs would finally end the rally, however, on a Smith lineout to second base, ending the ballgame.

The Matadors look to even the series with the Boilermakers on Friday evening in game two of the four-game set. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. PST.