Rosenberg Tosses Two-Hitter, CSUN Defeats Purdue, 6-0

Saturday, May 21

Purdue, IN

11:00 a.m.

California State University at Northridge

32-19

Purdue

9-44

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	2	1	6	12	1
Purdue	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3

Photo by: Laura Pierson

Rosenberg Tosses Two-Hitter, CSUN Defeats Purdue, 6-0

5/21/2016 1:26:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Kenny Rosenberg tossed a complete game shutout as CSUN Baseball (32-19) defeated Purdue (9-44) 6-0 on Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field. The southpaw fanned 12 batters and allowed just two hits en route to posting his second complete game victory of the season and his sixth overall win. The CSUN offense registered 12 hits led by Yusuke Akitoshi's three hits and Fred Smith's two. Jayson Newman drove in two of the Matadors' six runs on the day.

After suffering back-to-back losses in the series, the Matadors put forth a balanced effort of oustanding pitching and timely hitting on Saturday to earn the team's 32nd win of the season.

Dominating for most of the afternoon, Rosenberg encountered his toughest innings early on. Purdue threatened to score in each of the first four innings as Rosenberg allowed two runners to reach in three frames. Rosenberg would be able to escape danger in each inning, however, stranding seven runners over that span. Despite the Boilermakers' success in placing runners on the base paths at the outset of the game, Rosenberg allowed only two hits through four. A one-out single in the bottom of the fourth from Jacson McGowan would be the final hit for Purdue on Saturday.

The Boilermakers' starter Shane Bryant pitched strong as well in the early innings, allowing one hit through three. However, CSUN would find success at the plate in the fourth inning to take its first lead of the series.

Akitoshi led off the frame with a single and he later moved up to second after Justin Toerner reached on a fielding error at short. Following a double steal, Albee Weiss singled in the Matadors' first run with a shot through the left side. Bobby Schuman kept the hit parade going with a single to right to drive in Toerner. Two batters later, Derek Molina drove in the third run of the frame on a sacrifice fly to left.

The lead would be more than enough for Rosenberg. After giving up a two-out walk in the fourth, Rosenberg went to work on the mound. He retired the side in order on seven pitches in the fifth and he needed only six pitches to record a 1-2-3 sixth inning.

Rosenberg continued to get stronger as the game went along, facing the mimimum down the stretch. He set down the final 16 batters in a row including posting six strikeouts over the last three innings. In the ninth, he struck out the side, giving him 12 for the afternoon.

The Matadors added three insurance runs over the last two innings to put the game out of reach. In the eighth, the Matadors recorded five hits including four in a row to score two. With the bases loaded and two outs, Newman roped a single up the middle to make it 5-0. An inning later, Toerner added to the Matadors' lead with a fielder's choice groundball to second base to bring in Elias Orona from third.

After missing last season due to an injury, Rosenberg has put forth an impressive sophomore season with CSUN. Boasting a 6-1 record and a 3.03 ERA on the season, Rosenberg has fanned 113 batters on the year in 92 innings. In addition to becoming the first Matador in 10 seasons to reach 100 or more strikeouts in a season, he has moved into a 10th place tie with Fili Martinez (1989) for the most strikeouts in a single season in team history.

The two-hit performance from Rosenberg is the first for a CSUN pitcher since Calvin Copping two-hit Hawai'i in April 2015. He is also the second Matador pitcher this season to shut out an opponent as Angel Rodriguez tossed a three-hitter at George Mason on March 3.

For the second time in the series, Rayne Raven made a pinch-hit appearance for CSUN as he recorded his second hit of the series on Saturday with an infield single. Used as a right-handed starter and reliever throughout his two years with the team, Raven picked up his first hit as a Matador in his first career at bat with a single up the middle in game one of the series on Friday night.

The Matadors wrap up their stay in Purdue on Sunday for the finale of the series. First pitch scheduled for 9 a.m. PST.