Memorable Matador Moments - Baseball Clinches Big West TItle
5/18/2020 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
In this ongoing feature, GoMatadors.com takes a look back at some of the most memorable moments in CSUN Athletics history. Today, we revisit May 19, 2002 when CSUN Baseball defeated UC Irvine to clinch its first Big West championship.
The 2002 season would be a return to glory for the Matador baseball team. After completing four seasons as an independent squad from 1997-2000 and winning 34 games in its first season in the Big West in 2001, CSUN would post an improbable run through the league in 2002, knocking off perennial favorites to claim the conference championship. Â
The Matadors came into the 2002 season sporting a similar look to the team that finished in fourth place a season before. Returning five all-conference players including first baseman Tim Arroyo, catcher Jason Allec, outfielder Adam Nikolic and pitchers Bill Murphy and Andy Davidson, the Matadors were eager to try to dethrone four-time reigning champion Cal State Fullerton. Adding to the mix was a senior transfer in Shaun Larkin who took over second base duties.
CSUN's offense would quickly become one of the league's best as Larkin led the squad with a .361 average and 15 home runs. Outfielder Eric Verbryke also emerged as one the team's most potent weapons, hitting .332 with a team-best 75 hits and 54 RBI, which would earn him All-American and Big West Field Player of the Year honors.
15 home runs in 2002
On the pitching side, the Matadors were no slouch either as Davidson led the staff with 11 wins while Murphy logged a team-high 106 innings and struck out 129 batters in a nine-win campaign.
"It was a combination of highly talented players, an incredible coaching staff and a toughness and meanness to the team that we didn't care who you were when we played you," said Larkin about the team's makeup. "We'd play anyone anywhere and we felt we would win no matter who we played, and we usually did. We were tight, we rolled in together to the field and it was a special group."
After an impressive non-conference run that vaulted the Matadors into the national rankings, CSUN won nine of its first 12 league games. If the early success did not capture enough attention, the Matadors would soon make waves by sweeping Cal State Fullerton at Goodwin Field. Winning on the road was the calling card for the squad as the Matadors won all four of their road conference series including going 11-1 in those games.
CSUN entered its final weekend of the regular season at Matador Field against UC Irvine on the doorstep of a conference title. The Matadors cruised to an 11-1 win in the opener, behind a complete game from Matt Larson, bringing the team a win away from a conference title.
The following day, the Matadors and Anteaters battled in a back-and-forth first five innings that saw UC Irvine take a 5-4 lead. In the sixth though, the Matador bats finally broke through with a four-run frame to turn the tide of the contest. Led by Verbryke's three hits and four RBI, CSUN scored seven runs over its last three innings to extend to an 11-6 lead.
final batter to clinch the
Big West title
Out of the bullpen, Davidson tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief while Murphy struck out five over the final three innings to shut the door. Murphy's last strikeout would end the game and clinch the conference crown for the Matadors.
"We knew going into that series, if we swept, we had a good chance to win the conference with a week to play," said Larkin. "We had a lot of fun Saturday night [after clinching the championship]. On Sunday, it was a day game, coach Batesole played all the freshmen – all of the guys that had been watching us during the year got some playing time, which was really cool. My recollection of that series was how proud we were as a program. CSUN, nationally wasn't really known, we were brand new to the Big West so it was a lot of fun."
Mike Batesole earned Big West Coach of the Year accolades following the season as he led CSUN to 41 victories and the team's fifth postseason berth at the Division I level.
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