Tuesday, February 28
Northridge, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
5-1
6
vs
5
Pepperdine
2-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Pepperdine
1
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
5
6
2
CSUN
0
0
0
5
0
1
0
0
X
6
6
0
Photo by: Connor Clark
Matadors Rally to Knock Off Pepperdine, 6-5
2/28/2023 4:47:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (5-1) rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Pepperdine 6-5 on Tuesday at Matador Field. Graysen Tarlow went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two walks. CSUN's bullpen tossed four shutout innings with Joshua Romero collecting his first career save in a three-inning performance. The Matadors scored five runs in the fourth and broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth to earn a split with the Waves.
The Waves used a leadoff double from Charles Masino and a pair of groundouts to plate the game's first run in the opening frame. Pepperdine added to its lead in the third inning when Greg Mehlhaff hit a two-out, three-run homer to left for a 4-0 lead against CSUN starter Kenji Pallares.
The Matadors stranded three base runners in scoring position over the first three innings before breaking through in the fourth. Two of the first three Matador batters were retired in the frame before Kevin Fitzer kept the inning alive with a single. A four-pitch walk to Shunsuke Sakaino loaded the bases for Jakob Simons who also drew a walk to force in a run. Andrew Sojka would be hit by a pitch to bring in CSUN's second run then Tarlow came away with a timely three-run double to put the Matadors on top 5-4.
After a shutout fourth inning for Pallares, the Waves pushed across the tying run in the top of the fifth. Pallares though limited the damage, surrendering a pair of groundouts after the first two batters reached base. The right hander stranded the go-ahead run at third base by retiring Mehlhaff on a groundout.
CSUN appeared as though it took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Simons would be hit by a 2-2 pitch but was not awarded first base. Instead, the home plate umpire ruled Simons leaned into the ball and in turn, would be called out on a third strike.
The Matadors would take the lead in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Tarlow drew a one-out walk in the frame and moved up to second base on a groundout. Next, Ali Camarillo hit a grounder to short that could have ended the inning, but John Peck's throw to first base was mishandled. Tarlow hustled home on the miscue to give the Matadors a 6-5 lead.
CSUN's bullpen would keep the Waves at bay over the last four innings. Isaac Ontiveros tip-toed out of danger in the sixth, stranding two runners in scoring position with back-to-back strikeouts. Romero took over in the seventh and sat down six of seven batters.
Pepperdine collected a leadoff walk from Quintt Landis in the top of the ninth, but Romero struck out the next two batters then retired Masino on a flyout to end the game.
GAME NOTES
Joey Kramer, who went 1-for-4 in the game, has hit safely in all six games this season. Graysen Tarlow has driven in a team-high 14 runs this season while he has produced four multiple-RBI games on the year. CSUN batters drew 10 walks in the game while two were hit by pitches.
Isaac Ontiveros was credited with his first career victory after tossing a shutout sixth. Joshua Romero struck out four batters in his three-inning stint. CSUN's bullpen has not allowed an earned run in 23 innings of work this season.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"The message early on in this ballgame was bounce back from the previous loss. We competed [in that game] but we didn't compete all nine innings. Early on in this ballgame, when they got four runs, I feel like we weren't doing that. We needed to flip that switch. They gave us a lot of free baserunners. We keep a tally on those, and they gave us 17 free 90-feets while we gave them five. I was frustrated because despite the freebee war being that lopsided, we aren't closing and bringing in runners, especially with a runner at third base and less than two outs.
But they're were a lot of good things today too. Josh Romero came in and closed the last three innings, which is really tough. It's the first save of his career. A lot of people don't realize he was just a catcher prior to him coming here. I was proud of Mason Le with how he didn't start, but he came in and played really good defense. Graysen Tarlow has also continued to shine for us in the lineup."
UP NEXT
The Matadors will host Waseda University (Japan) in an exhibition game on Wednesday at Matador Field. First pitch on ESPN+ is set for 2 p.m. with Alex Naveja on the call.
#UniteTheValley
The Waves used a leadoff double from Charles Masino and a pair of groundouts to plate the game's first run in the opening frame. Pepperdine added to its lead in the third inning when Greg Mehlhaff hit a two-out, three-run homer to left for a 4-0 lead against CSUN starter Kenji Pallares.
The Matadors stranded three base runners in scoring position over the first three innings before breaking through in the fourth. Two of the first three Matador batters were retired in the frame before Kevin Fitzer kept the inning alive with a single. A four-pitch walk to Shunsuke Sakaino loaded the bases for Jakob Simons who also drew a walk to force in a run. Andrew Sojka would be hit by a pitch to bring in CSUN's second run then Tarlow came away with a timely three-run double to put the Matadors on top 5-4.
After a shutout fourth inning for Pallares, the Waves pushed across the tying run in the top of the fifth. Pallares though limited the damage, surrendering a pair of groundouts after the first two batters reached base. The right hander stranded the go-ahead run at third base by retiring Mehlhaff on a groundout.
CSUN appeared as though it took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Simons would be hit by a 2-2 pitch but was not awarded first base. Instead, the home plate umpire ruled Simons leaned into the ball and in turn, would be called out on a third strike.
The Matadors would take the lead in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Tarlow drew a one-out walk in the frame and moved up to second base on a groundout. Next, Ali Camarillo hit a grounder to short that could have ended the inning, but John Peck's throw to first base was mishandled. Tarlow hustled home on the miscue to give the Matadors a 6-5 lead.
CSUN's bullpen would keep the Waves at bay over the last four innings. Isaac Ontiveros tip-toed out of danger in the sixth, stranding two runners in scoring position with back-to-back strikeouts. Romero took over in the seventh and sat down six of seven batters.
Pepperdine collected a leadoff walk from Quintt Landis in the top of the ninth, but Romero struck out the next two batters then retired Masino on a flyout to end the game.
GAME NOTES
Joey Kramer, who went 1-for-4 in the game, has hit safely in all six games this season. Graysen Tarlow has driven in a team-high 14 runs this season while he has produced four multiple-RBI games on the year. CSUN batters drew 10 walks in the game while two were hit by pitches.
Isaac Ontiveros was credited with his first career victory after tossing a shutout sixth. Joshua Romero struck out four batters in his three-inning stint. CSUN's bullpen has not allowed an earned run in 23 innings of work this season.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"The message early on in this ballgame was bounce back from the previous loss. We competed [in that game] but we didn't compete all nine innings. Early on in this ballgame, when they got four runs, I feel like we weren't doing that. We needed to flip that switch. They gave us a lot of free baserunners. We keep a tally on those, and they gave us 17 free 90-feets while we gave them five. I was frustrated because despite the freebee war being that lopsided, we aren't closing and bringing in runners, especially with a runner at third base and less than two outs.
But they're were a lot of good things today too. Josh Romero came in and closed the last three innings, which is really tough. It's the first save of his career. A lot of people don't realize he was just a catcher prior to him coming here. I was proud of Mason Le with how he didn't start, but he came in and played really good defense. Graysen Tarlow has also continued to shine for us in the lineup."
UP NEXT
The Matadors will host Waseda University (Japan) in an exhibition game on Wednesday at Matador Field. First pitch on ESPN+ is set for 2 p.m. with Alex Naveja on the call.
#UniteTheValley
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ontiveros, Isaac (1-0)
L: DIAMOND, NATHAN (0-1)
S: Romero, Joshua (1)
Batting:
2B: MASINO, CHARLES 1
HR: MEHLHAFF, GREG 1
RBI: PECK, JOHN 1 ; MEHLHAFF, GREG 4
Base Running:
RUNS: MASINO, CHARLES 1 ; MEHLHAFF, GREG 1 ; GOODMAN, JACK 2 ; SHEEHAN, COLE 1
Batting:
2B: Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Stuka, Luc 1
RBI: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Tarlow, Graysen 3
SH: Fitzer, Kevin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Kramer, Joey 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1
SB: Simons, Jakob 2 ; Tarlow, Graysen 1
HBP: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
3b/1b
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballINF
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LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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RHP/C
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INF
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OF
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OF
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