Wednesday, March 8
Northridge, CA
2:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
7-6
10
vs
5
Holy Cross
1-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Holy Cross
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
0
0
5
12
3
CSUN
0
3
1
4
1
1
0
0
X
10
15
0
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
CSUN Powers Past Holy Cross, 10-5
3/8/2017 7:04:00 PM | Baseball
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, CA---
Behind a 15-hit attack, CSUN Baseball (7-6) defeated Holy Cross 10-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Matador Field. Eight of the Matadors' starters earned hits led by Justin Toerner who tied a career high with four hits to go along with two runs scored and an RBI. Also enjoying a big day at the plate, Kevin Riley came a triple shy of the cycle as he finished with three hits, three runs scored and three RBI. Never trailing in the game, the Matadors scored in five consecutive innings to power past the Crusaders in the teams' first ever meeting.
"It was nice to get back on the field after playing last night and playing a late game across town. I like that challenge for these guys," said head coach Greg Moore. "And the fact that we came out and put good at bats together, the fact that we had a bunch of first year guys on the mound, and they battled, that's fun to watch. I really take pride in watching the young guys turn it around like that and answer the bell a bit."
After scoring nine runs over the last three games, the Matadors broke out with 10 runs on Tuesday and collected a season-high 15 hits.
From the outset, the Matadors applied pressure on the Holy Cross pitching staff. Denied of runs in the bottom of the first inning after runners reached the corners, CSUN rebounded with strong offensive play throughout the remainder of the afternoon.
In the second inning, after Nick Sablock walked with one out, Nolan Bumstead belted a two-run blast to left center to put the Matadors on top by two. The Matadors added a third run on a two-out double from Toerner to right, plating Alvaro Rubalcaba.
The teams would exchange runs in the third inning on sacrifice flies but the Matadors would blow the game open with another huge inning in the fourth. Consecutive singles from Rubalcaba and Toerner to start the frame put runners at the corners. Smith followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice back to the mound, scoring a hustling Rubalcaba. After Elias Orona sacrificed both runners up on a bunt, Riley deposited a three-run home run to left center field to put CSUN on top 8-1.
Not going away quietly, Holy Cross chipped away at the Matador lead with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings as Kevin McCormick doubled in two runs with two outs and the tandem of Travis Cloney and Thomas Russo each picked up RBI hits.
With the Crusaders making a push, CSUN's offense would have an answer at every turn with key two-out hitting over the middle innings. In the fifth, Smith doubled home Toerner with two outs and Bumstead brought in Riley on a clutch single an inning later.
The Matador bullpen would shut the door over the final three innings as the trio of Kyle Nicol, Jacob Sylvester and Conner O'Neil all tossed scoreless frames to nail down the victory.
Drake Atlee started the game on the mound, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing one run to go along with two strikeouts. Earning the victory, Blake Schriever (2-0) pitched 2.1 innings and surrendered four runs while fanning four batters.
Both Rubalcaba and Riley Conlan each extended their respective hitting streaks to six games while Sablock pushed his streak to five. Conlan has also reached base in seven-straight contests. With another three-hit game, Riley earned his team-leading fourth multiple-hit game of the season.
The Matadors continue their nine-game homestand on Friday afternoon against Purdue at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schriever, Blake (2-0)
L: McGowan,Pat (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Russo,Thomas 1 ; Critelli,Anthony 1 ; Schlich,Bill 1 ; McCormick,Kellen 1 ; Rinaldi,Chris 1
RBI: Russo,Thomas 1 ; O'Neill,Cam 1 ; McCormick,Kellen 2 ; Cloney,Travis 1
SF: O'Neill,Cam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Masel,Austin 1 ; Critelli,Anthony 1 ; O'Neill,Cam 1 ; Rinaldi,Chris 1 ; Cloney,Travis 1
PO: Russo,Thomas 1
Batting:
2B: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Smith, Fred 1 ; Riley, Kevin 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1
HR: Riley, Kevin 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1
RBI: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Smith, Fred 2 ; Riley, Kevin 3 ; Sablock, Nick 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 3
SH: Orona, Elias 1
SF: Sablock, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Toerner, Justin 2 ; Smith, Fred 1 ; Riley, Kevin 3 ; Sablock, Nick 1 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1 ; Rubalcaba, Alvaro 2
SB: Toerner, Justin 1 ; Riley, Kevin 2 ; Bumstead, Nolan 1
HBP: Smith, Fred 1 ; Weiss, Albee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
1
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
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