Saint Mary's Holds Off CSUN in Series Finale

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NORTHRIDGE, CA---

CSUN Baseball (11-10) fell to Saint Mary's 2-1 in the teams' series finale on Sunday afternoon at Matador Field. Senior right hander Drake Atlee tossed a season-best five innings, surrendering two runs on six hits. Out of the bullpen, the quartet of Ray Diaz, Joey Deceglie and Justin Toerner combined to throw four shutout innings for the Matadors. Allowing only one hit over the last five frames, the Matadors were unable to knock in the tying run over the final innings in Sunday's loss to the Gaels.

"We could look back and say we could have done a few things to get some runs across. We didn't do them and they played great," said head coach Greg Moore. "So we have to move on, practice tomorrow and get back to work."

Earning his third start of the season, Atlee did his best to pitch deep into the game and keep the Gaels' offense off the scoreboard. Atlee gave up an early run in the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout off the bat of Zach Kirtley, but rebounded well with two straight shutout innings.

Saint Mary's broke through in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. With runners at first and second base, Kevin Milam doubled to right center field to bring home a run. On the play, Edward Haus tried to score from first base, but the trio of Nick Sablock and Alvaro Rubalcaba and Albee Weiss teamed up to get Haus at the plate. In a heads up play, Weiss had to move up the third base line to catch the relay and apply the tag on Haus for the out.

Atlee pitched around a one-out single in the fifth and made way for the CSUN bullpen in the top of the sixth. Diaz retired all six batters he faced and Deceglie tossed a shutout frame in the eighth. Making the move from center field, Toerner took the mound in the ninth and worked around a leadoff walk for another scoreless frame.

While CSUN's pitching staff kept the Gaels at bay, the bats were unable to figure out starter Conner Loeprich. Through the first four innings, Loeprich allowed just one hit and two total base runners.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Matadors were able to finally get on the scoreboard with some timely two-out hitting. After the first two batters were retired to start the frame, Riley Conlan was struck by a pitch. Moments later, Conlan would steal second base, giving Nick Sablock an opportunity to hit an RBI single to right center field.

The Matadors would place the tying run in scoring position in each of the final four frames, however the Gaels would holf off CSUN from driving in the tying run. In the sixth, Weiss doubled with two outs, but Loeprich retired Nolan Bumstead on a ground out. An inning later, Loeprich forced Rubalcaba to fly out with the tying run at second base.

CSUN would threaten to tie the game against reliever Johnny York in the eighth as Smith singled and later advanced to third base with two outs. York rebounded by striking out Weiss to end the frame.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Matadors placed the tying and go-ahead runs on base with one out. Elias Orona singled and later moved up to second base on a Conlan walk. Alex Hull pinched hit for Sablock and hit a grounder for a potential double play ball but Hull beat out the relay to first base on a sliding play. With two outs and runners at the corners, York would retire Rubalcaba on a fly out to end the game.

Finishing with a pair of hits in the game, Smith extended his streak of reaching base safely to nine games. Going 2-for-4 on the day, Smith also tallied his sixth multiple-hit game of the season.

The Matadors hit the road for an eight-game road trip beginning on Tuesday. CSUN heads to Loyola Marymount to take on the Lions to start the trip with first pitch slated for 6 p.m.

Saint Mary's Holds Off CSUN in Series Finale

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Team Stats

Fred Smith

Albee Weiss

Elias Orona

Nick Sablock

Players Mentioned

Drake Atlee

Nolan Bumstead

Riley Conlan

Joey Deceglie

Ray Diaz

Alex Hull

Elias Orona

Alvaro Rubalcaba

Nick Sablock

Justin Toerner

Albee Weiss