Sunday, February 23
Phoenix, Ariz.
10:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
7-0
6
at
2
Grand Canyon
4-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
CSUN
0
2
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
6
12
2
Grand Canyon
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
6
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lizik, Gavin (1-0)
L: McCarville, Dawson (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Doremus, Blake 1 ; Skelly, Sean 1 ; Ajamian, Jason 1
HR: Clarke, Denzel 1
RBI: Ruiz, Jose 1 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Clarke, Denzel 3
SF: Ruiz, Jose 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ruiz, Jose 1 ; Newman, Jayson 1 ; Ajamian, Jason 2 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Clarke, Denzel 1
CS: Arellano, Carlos 1
HBP: Ajamian, Jason 1 ; Clarke, Denzel 1
Batting:
2B: Burton, Brock 1
HR: Colato, Juan 1
RBI: Ortiz, Channy 1 ; Colato, Juan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Colato, Juan 1 ; Avitia, David 1
SB: Gawelko, Nate 1
HBP: Smith, Drew 1 ; Gawelko, Nate 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Paul Trafecanty
CSUN Closes GCU Classic with 6-2 Triumph
2/23/2020 3:23:00 PM | Baseball
PHOENIX, Ariz.---Sophomore Denzel Clarke drove in three runs and homered to help lead CSUN Baseball to a 6-2 win over Grand Canyon at the GCU Classic on Sunday. The quartet of Clarke, Jose Ruiz, Jayson Newman and Mason Le all racked up two hits apiece. Freshman right-hander Gavin Lizik earned his first career victory, pitching two innings and allowing an unearned run.
The Matadors finished a perfect 3-0 at the GCU Classic to run their overall record to 7-0, which is the program's best start in 27 seasons. Only the 1993 team and the 2020 squad have posted a 7-0 record to start a season in the Matadors' 30-year Division I history. The 1993 Matador team recorded the most wins in a row to start a season with nine straight.
GAME BREAKDOWN
CSUN starter Daniel Vasquez ran into trouble in the first inning as the Lopes picked up three hits including two extra-base hits. GCU struck first on a one-out solo home run from Juan Colato. After two-straight hits put runners at the corners, Vasquez bounced back with back-to-back outs to limit the damage.
The Matadors were turned away in the first inning but responded in the second with a timely two-out hit from Clarke. Le worked a walk to start the rally then Clarke belted a two-run home run over the left-field fence to give CSUN a 2-1 advantage.
Clarke came through again in the third inning with two outs to plate another CSUN run. Jason Ajamian would hit a two-out double to left-center before Le walked again to bring Clarke to the plate. Clarke poked a 2-1 pitch to left field on a half-swing to bring home Ajamian. The Matadors added to their lead in the fifth inning on a wild pitch that scored Ruiz.
On the flip side, Vasquez found his rhythm on the mound as he retired seven-straight GCU batters until he issued a two-out walk to Nate Gawelko in the fourth. Vasquez though ended that inning by retiring David Avitia on a flyout.
In the fifth, the Lopes took advantage of a CSUN error to start the inning and picked up a one-out hit by Colato. With his pitch count nearing 100 pitches, Vasquez was lifted by head coach Dave Serrano. Lizik entered the fray and struck out Drew Smith before retiring Brock Burton to end the inning.
The Matadors added to their lead with single tallies in the sixth and seventh to lead 6-1. In the top of the sixth, CSUN loaded the bases with nobody out before Ruiz hit a sacrifice fly. Le legged out an infield single to bring home Newman with two outs in the top of the seventh after Newman led off the frame with a single.
Lizik worked a clean bottom of the sixth inning but the Lopes threatened in the seventh inning. Following a CSUN throwing error to start the inning, Lizik retired Dane Stankiewicz. Channy Ortiz followed with an RBI single to force a change on the mound. Elijah Garcia relieved Lizik and battled Colato to a 2-2 count before inducing an inning-ending 4-3 double play.
Garcia would work a shutout eighth, taking the lead to the ninth inning. CSUN closer Blake Schriever battled through a hit batter and a one-out walk to retire the last two batters of the game in succession to secure the Matador win.
GAME NOTES
The trio of Ruiz, Sean Skelly and Kai Moody have reached base in all seven of CSUN's games this season. Le and Newman both picked up their third multiple-hit games of 2020.
In the three wins this weekend, Clarke hit a team-best .455 (5-for-11) with five runs scored and four RBI while Ajamian and Le both went 5-for-12 (.417) with four RBI. The Matador bullpen worked a combined 12.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs for a 1.50 ERA.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH DAVE SERRANO
"Again another weekend where this group took care of business. Many clutch AB's by guys in our line-up after the previous guy failed to execute. Denzel Clarke continues to show growth as he develops the tools to be a special player. Good contributions from guys on the mound too. Daniel Vasquez's pitch count got too high early so we had to go get him before he could get the decision. But Gavin Lizik threw the ball well as did Eli Garcia. Blake Schriever wasn't sharp as we are used to but he endured to close the door. Excited for these guys but they also realize we still have room for growth overall."
UP NEXT
The Matadors continue their road trip with a four-game series at UCF next weekend. The opener is set for Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
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The Matadors finished a perfect 3-0 at the GCU Classic to run their overall record to 7-0, which is the program's best start in 27 seasons. Only the 1993 team and the 2020 squad have posted a 7-0 record to start a season in the Matadors' 30-year Division I history. The 1993 Matador team recorded the most wins in a row to start a season with nine straight.
GAME BREAKDOWN
CSUN starter Daniel Vasquez ran into trouble in the first inning as the Lopes picked up three hits including two extra-base hits. GCU struck first on a one-out solo home run from Juan Colato. After two-straight hits put runners at the corners, Vasquez bounced back with back-to-back outs to limit the damage.
The Matadors were turned away in the first inning but responded in the second with a timely two-out hit from Clarke. Le worked a walk to start the rally then Clarke belted a two-run home run over the left-field fence to give CSUN a 2-1 advantage.
Clarke came through again in the third inning with two outs to plate another CSUN run. Jason Ajamian would hit a two-out double to left-center before Le walked again to bring Clarke to the plate. Clarke poked a 2-1 pitch to left field on a half-swing to bring home Ajamian. The Matadors added to their lead in the fifth inning on a wild pitch that scored Ruiz.
On the flip side, Vasquez found his rhythm on the mound as he retired seven-straight GCU batters until he issued a two-out walk to Nate Gawelko in the fourth. Vasquez though ended that inning by retiring David Avitia on a flyout.
In the fifth, the Lopes took advantage of a CSUN error to start the inning and picked up a one-out hit by Colato. With his pitch count nearing 100 pitches, Vasquez was lifted by head coach Dave Serrano. Lizik entered the fray and struck out Drew Smith before retiring Brock Burton to end the inning.
The Matadors added to their lead with single tallies in the sixth and seventh to lead 6-1. In the top of the sixth, CSUN loaded the bases with nobody out before Ruiz hit a sacrifice fly. Le legged out an infield single to bring home Newman with two outs in the top of the seventh after Newman led off the frame with a single.
Lizik worked a clean bottom of the sixth inning but the Lopes threatened in the seventh inning. Following a CSUN throwing error to start the inning, Lizik retired Dane Stankiewicz. Channy Ortiz followed with an RBI single to force a change on the mound. Elijah Garcia relieved Lizik and battled Colato to a 2-2 count before inducing an inning-ending 4-3 double play.
Garcia would work a shutout eighth, taking the lead to the ninth inning. CSUN closer Blake Schriever battled through a hit batter and a one-out walk to retire the last two batters of the game in succession to secure the Matador win.
GAME NOTES
The trio of Ruiz, Sean Skelly and Kai Moody have reached base in all seven of CSUN's games this season. Le and Newman both picked up their third multiple-hit games of 2020.
In the three wins this weekend, Clarke hit a team-best .455 (5-for-11) with five runs scored and four RBI while Ajamian and Le both went 5-for-12 (.417) with four RBI. The Matador bullpen worked a combined 12.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs for a 1.50 ERA.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH DAVE SERRANO
"Again another weekend where this group took care of business. Many clutch AB's by guys in our line-up after the previous guy failed to execute. Denzel Clarke continues to show growth as he develops the tools to be a special player. Good contributions from guys on the mound too. Daniel Vasquez's pitch count got too high early so we had to go get him before he could get the decision. But Gavin Lizik threw the ball well as did Eli Garcia. Blake Schriever wasn't sharp as we are used to but he endured to close the door. Excited for these guys but they also realize we still have room for growth overall."
UP NEXT
The Matadors continue their road trip with a four-game series at UCF next weekend. The opener is set for Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.
#UniteTheValley
Â
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