Matadors Walk Off in 5-4 Comeback Win Over Saint Mary's

NORTHRIDGE, CA---

Justin Toerner delivered a walk-off RBI single up the middle to lift CSUN Baseball (11-7) to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Saint Mary's on Friday afternoon at Matador Field. Albee Weiss scored two runs and finished with two RBI including a dramatic two-run home run that tied the game in the eighth inning. Earning a no decision, junior right hander Andrew Weston pitched a career-high 8.1 innings and allowed four runs to go along with three strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, Conner O'Neil recorded the final two outs of the ninth inning as he earned his first victory of the season.

"I enjoyed what Justin [Toerner] did," said head coach Greg Moore about the walk-off hit. "He got into that 3-1 count, he saw the at bat before that the lefty went slider and hit our left-handed hitter Nick Sablock. So I think he narrowed the pitch down in that at bat. That's a mature hitter, who knew he was going to get a fastball in a 3-1 count. He got it up the middle and good things happened."

The Matadors entered the late innings looking for a big hit. Trailing 3-2 heading to the seventh, CSUN fell behind by a pair on a solo home run from Joe Vranesh. An inning later, the Matadors would receive their big hit, courtesy of a game-tying home run.

With one out and nobody on base, Kevin Riley worked the count full before drawing ball four to bring the tying run to the plate. Moments later, Weiss hit a towering, no doubt home run to left field to even the game at 4-4. Weiss' blast was his fifth of the season and pushed his team-leading RBI total to 17.

"We were putting together some decent at bats throughout the whole day," said Weiss. "I think one of the things I needed to do was make a small adjustment in the legs, try to be a little bit more simple and shorter on the ball, and just not try to do so much. I got a few pitches to hit those first two at bats and didn't necessarily capitalize on them. So, I was trying to be short, put the ball in play somewhere and the result was good but I was just trying to stay in the middle of the field."

Weston started the game and worked his way into the ninth inning. Retiring the first batter of the frame, Weston surrendered a single to Kevin Milam, which prompted Moore to make a move to the bullpen. O'Neil entered the fray and sat down two of the next three batters, stranding a pair of runners on base to keep the game tied.

In the bottom of the ninth, CSUN was able to place the winning run in scoring position without the benefit of a hit.

Sablock led off the ninth and worked a 3-1 count before being struck by a pitch. Alex Hull followed next with a well-executed sacrifice bunt to move Sablock up to second base with out. After left-handed pitcher Ty Madrigal intentionally walked Alvaro Rubalcaba, Toerner rifled a single up the middle. Pinch runner Harrison Hart raced home and scored without a throw, giving CSUN the thrilling victory.

Earlier in the game, the Matadors struck first to take a 1-0 lead against starter Cameron Neff. Coming up with the bases loaded and one out, Riley reached on an infield single to first base, scoring a hustling Rubalcaba.

Weston kept the Gaels off the scoreboard and out of the hit column through the first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. Brett Rasso doubled and later scored on a throwing error at first base. Jackson Thoreson singled in another run in the frame and a third run came across on a Vranesh fielder's choice with runners at the corners.

The Matadors cut the Gaels' lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning on a key two-out hit from Riley Conlan. After Weiss was hit by a pitch and Nolan Bumstead singled, Conlan picked up an RBI single through the right side.

Weston pitched around hits in the fifth and sixth innings and bounced back after the Vranesh home run in the seventh to retire seven of the final eight batters he faced.

Recording a pair hits in the ballgame, Bumstead extended his streak of reaching base safely to 11 consecutive games. Going 1-for-3 on Friday, Smith also stretched his hitting streak to six.

The walk-off hit for Toerner was the first of his career and the first Matador walk off this season. A year ago, the Matadors recorded a walk off on a Dylan Alexander single to defeat Cal Poly on May 8.

CSUN continues its weekend series with Saint Mary's on Saturday with a doubleheader at Matador Field. Game one is slated to start at 10 a.m.

Matadors Walk Off in 5-4 Comeback Win Over Saint Mary's

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Team Stats

Nolan Bumstead

Justin Toerner

Fred Smith

Kevin Riley

Players Mentioned

Dylan Alexander

Nolan Bumstead

Riley Conlan

Harrison Hart

Alex Hull

Conner O'Neil

Kevin Riley

Alvaro Rubalcaba

Nick Sablock

Justin Toerner

Albee Weiss

Andrew Weston