Thursday, May 26
Northridge, Calif.
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
31-21, 16-12
3
vs
0
UC San Diego
23-31, 12-16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
R
H
E
UC San Diego
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
1
CSUN
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
4
0
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Martinez, Xavier (2-0)
L: Martinez, Izaak (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Smith, Jalen 1
3B: Halbach, Matt 1
SH: Glascoe, Luke 1 ; Sudyka, Noah 1
Base Running:
HBP: Filia, Marc 1
Batting:
2B: Fitzer, Kevin 1
HR: Kramer, Joey 1
RBI: Kramer, Joey 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Sakaino, Shunsuke 1 ; West, Bart 1 ; Kramer, Joey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Dianne Wentz
Kramer's Walk-Off Homer Lifts CSUN Past UCSD, 3-0
5/26/2022 6:19:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Joey Kramer hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning to help CSUN (31-21, 16-12 Big West) post a series-opening 3-0 win over UC San Diego (23-31, 12-16 Big West) on Thursday at Matador Field. Blaine Traxel gave the Matadors nine gutsy shutout innings, scattering nine hits to go with six strikeouts. The Matadors were held without a hit until the ninth inning in the game before finally breaking through in extra innings.Â
Thursday's series opener was a pitcher's duel between Traxel and the UCSD pitching staff as the two sides traded zeroes throughout the afternoon.
Traxel got off to a strong start for the Matadors, retiring the first 10 UCSD batters to start the game before Jalen Smith hit a one-out double in the fourth. Beginning with the top of the fourth, Traxel would have to work out of numerous jams on the mound, but he proved to be up for the challenge.
Traxel faced his first of three bases loaded situations in the top of the fourth when two hits and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. However, Traxel would induce a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Emiliano Gonzalez to end the threat. UCSD loaded the bases again in the fifth inning, this time on two singles and a walk with two outs before Traxel forced Smith to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
The Tritons had two more hits in the sixth with one out, but Traxel again escaped danger by retiring the next two batters. CSUN's right-hander also stranded two more runners in the seventh before leaving runners at the corners in the top of the eighth.
The ninth inning though would perhaps be the toughest for Traxel to work his way through. After Noah Sudyka led off the inning with a single, a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. The Matadors would intentionally walk Smith to set up a double play, but Traxel threw a wild pitch to put both runners into scoring position with one out. Marc Filia worked a walk to load the bases again for UCSD. Nearing 140 pitches, Traxel would bounce back to strike out Blake FitzGerald for the second out. Moments later, Gonzalez fouled out to right field for the final out of the inning.
While Traxel masterfully kept the Tritons off the scoreboard, the Matadors had a difficult time producing a hit. The combination of Austin Smith, Aren Alvarez and Izaak Martinez no-hit the Matadors through the first eight innings. CSUN had only one base runner over that span with Andrew Sojka reaching base on an error in the fourth.
Martinez, who took over in the fourth, shut down the Matador offense for over five innings on the afternoon. CSUN would finally break up the no-hitter in the ninth with one out when Kevin Fitzer hit a double.
Xavier Martinez relieved Traxel in the 10th inning and proceeded to induce three ground outs, setting the stage for an eventful bottom of the 10th. Gabe Gonzalez began the rally with a one-out single before Bart West followed with a single of his own through the left side. Moments later, It would take only one pitch for Kramer to finally end the scoring drought. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Kramer hammered a no doubt three-run homer to left field for a CSUN walk-off win.
GAME NOTES
The walk-off win for CSUN was its third of the season while the combined shutout was the team's fourth. Kramer's home run was his fifth this season.
Traxel, who has thrown 105 innings this season, became the first Matador in 16 seasons to surpass 100 innings in a single year. His 105 innings pitched are also the most by a CSUN pitcher since Leo Rosales tossed 108.1 innings in 2003.
ACCORDING TO COACH DAVE SERRANO
"You can't say enough about what Blaine did. That's why the game is a little funky sometimes. He really battled, we just didn't score any runs, but the thing is he didn't let them score any runs. It's too bad when the guy lays it on the line like that he doesn't get credit for [the win]. There's a lot of cool things that happened in that game. Credit to their pitching, they did a great job of keeping us off balanced. I really think we didn't have a bad approach offensively, the field played especially small today. We hit some balls right at people. We rallied late in that inning and got some experienced guys to come up with some hits. Ironically, it's two seniors, Gabe Gonzalez and Bart West to get two singles through the infield and Joey comes up with the big hit after struggling today.
"As I shared with the team, we know the end is coming near. My saying today was let's not count the days, let's make the days count and they made today count for sure. My hope is that they make tomorrow count and make Saturday count. These guys deserve to walk off the field very proud of what they have accomplished. I'm proud of them, the coaching staff is proud of them. I want them to feel proud of what they are doing for this program as it moves forward."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues its weekend series with UC San Diego on Friday at 2 p.m. Andrew Rector has the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
Â
Thursday's series opener was a pitcher's duel between Traxel and the UCSD pitching staff as the two sides traded zeroes throughout the afternoon.
Traxel got off to a strong start for the Matadors, retiring the first 10 UCSD batters to start the game before Jalen Smith hit a one-out double in the fourth. Beginning with the top of the fourth, Traxel would have to work out of numerous jams on the mound, but he proved to be up for the challenge.
Traxel faced his first of three bases loaded situations in the top of the fourth when two hits and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. However, Traxel would induce a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Emiliano Gonzalez to end the threat. UCSD loaded the bases again in the fifth inning, this time on two singles and a walk with two outs before Traxel forced Smith to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
The Tritons had two more hits in the sixth with one out, but Traxel again escaped danger by retiring the next two batters. CSUN's right-hander also stranded two more runners in the seventh before leaving runners at the corners in the top of the eighth.
The ninth inning though would perhaps be the toughest for Traxel to work his way through. After Noah Sudyka led off the inning with a single, a sacrifice bunt moved him into scoring position. The Matadors would intentionally walk Smith to set up a double play, but Traxel threw a wild pitch to put both runners into scoring position with one out. Marc Filia worked a walk to load the bases again for UCSD. Nearing 140 pitches, Traxel would bounce back to strike out Blake FitzGerald for the second out. Moments later, Gonzalez fouled out to right field for the final out of the inning.
While Traxel masterfully kept the Tritons off the scoreboard, the Matadors had a difficult time producing a hit. The combination of Austin Smith, Aren Alvarez and Izaak Martinez no-hit the Matadors through the first eight innings. CSUN had only one base runner over that span with Andrew Sojka reaching base on an error in the fourth.
Martinez, who took over in the fourth, shut down the Matador offense for over five innings on the afternoon. CSUN would finally break up the no-hitter in the ninth with one out when Kevin Fitzer hit a double.
Xavier Martinez relieved Traxel in the 10th inning and proceeded to induce three ground outs, setting the stage for an eventful bottom of the 10th. Gabe Gonzalez began the rally with a one-out single before Bart West followed with a single of his own through the left side. Moments later, It would take only one pitch for Kramer to finally end the scoring drought. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Kramer hammered a no doubt three-run homer to left field for a CSUN walk-off win.
GAME NOTES
The walk-off win for CSUN was its third of the season while the combined shutout was the team's fourth. Kramer's home run was his fifth this season.
Traxel, who has thrown 105 innings this season, became the first Matador in 16 seasons to surpass 100 innings in a single year. His 105 innings pitched are also the most by a CSUN pitcher since Leo Rosales tossed 108.1 innings in 2003.
ACCORDING TO COACH DAVE SERRANO
"You can't say enough about what Blaine did. That's why the game is a little funky sometimes. He really battled, we just didn't score any runs, but the thing is he didn't let them score any runs. It's too bad when the guy lays it on the line like that he doesn't get credit for [the win]. There's a lot of cool things that happened in that game. Credit to their pitching, they did a great job of keeping us off balanced. I really think we didn't have a bad approach offensively, the field played especially small today. We hit some balls right at people. We rallied late in that inning and got some experienced guys to come up with some hits. Ironically, it's two seniors, Gabe Gonzalez and Bart West to get two singles through the infield and Joey comes up with the big hit after struggling today.
"As I shared with the team, we know the end is coming near. My saying today was let's not count the days, let's make the days count and they made today count for sure. My hope is that they make tomorrow count and make Saturday count. These guys deserve to walk off the field very proud of what they have accomplished. I'm proud of them, the coaching staff is proud of them. I want them to feel proud of what they are doing for this program as it moves forward."
UP NEXT
CSUN continues its weekend series with UC San Diego on Friday at 2 p.m. Andrew Rector has the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#UniteTheValley
Â
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