Monday, March 20
Northridge, Calif.
2:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
vs
Pepperdine
Photo by: Dianne Wentz
Matadors Host Pepperdine on Monday Afternoon
3/19/2023 8:57:00 PM | Baseball
FULL GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (11-4, 2-1 Big West) returns home to Matador Field on Monday afternoon to take on Pepperdine in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 1:50 p.m.
LAST WEEK'S SERIES
The Matadors opened Big West play this past weekend with a series victory at UC Davis. CSUN would win the opener on Friday in 11 innings, 6-3, before splitting a Saturday doubleheader. The Matadors dropped the first game of the twin bill by a 6-5 score but bounced back with a 9-3 win to take the series.
In Friday's opener, Lucas Braun tossed eight quality innings, allowing two runs to go with 10 strikeouts. CSUN led for most of the contest by a 2-0 score until the Aggies hit a two-run homer in the seventh. The score remained 2-2 into the 11th inning when the Matadors broke through for four runs, highlighted by Nathan Barraza's bases-clearing three-run double. Isaac Ontiveros earned the win, tossing 2.2 innings and surrendering a run.
The Matadors led 3-0 early in game one of the doubleheader before the Aggies rallied for six runs over the third and fourth innings. Barraza had two more hits including his first career home run, but it was not enough to overcome a 6-5 deficit. CSUN though took the rubber match, scoring four times in the first inning as well as five runs over the last three frames. Kenji Pallares improved to 4-0 on the season after working five innings and allowing two runs in the finale.
MATADOR HEADLINES
The series win over UC Davis was CSUN's first road series victory to open league play since the 2002 season. Since that 2002 campaign, the Matadors had previously only won two series to start Big West play in 2009 and 2018 at Matador Field.
CSUN's relief pitchers combined to toss 11.1 innings in the UC Davis series with just two runs allowed. On the season, Matador relievers have accumulated a combined 1.68 ERA while racking up four of the team's 11 wins. The staff has also limited the opposition to a .148 batting average.
After having just two at-bats entering the UC Davis series, Nathan Barraza gave the Matadors a big lift offensively throughout the three games. Barraza went 5-for-9 in the series with the Aggies, totaling six RBI including his first career home run. Bren Wilkinson also was another bright spot in the finale of the series as the Matadors' backup catcher had three hits and three RBI, both of which were season highs.
Entering play this week, Graysen Tarlow still leads The Big West in on-base percentage (.541) while he ranks second in batting (.413), sixth in RBI (17) and eighth in stolen bases (4). Jakob Simons is first in The Big West in stolen bases (9), third in runs (18) and sixth in homers (4). On the pitching side, Kenji Pallares is The Big West leader in wins with four while Lucas Braun ranks first in strikeouts (41) and second in innings pitched (30.1).
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN has already played Pepperdine three times this season with the Matadors winning two of those games. Pepperdine took the first meeting at Matador Field by a 5-4 margin, but CSUN returned the favor with a 6-5 win two days later. The scene shifted to Malibu last Monday where the Matadors claimed an 8-3 victory.
Overall, the Waves lead the Matadors 48-46-2 in the all-time series. CSUN holds a 27-23 lead in the series in games played at Matador Field.
SCOUTING PEPPERDINE
The Waves suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of Portland this past weekend to open WCC play. Pepperdine has lost six-straight games coming into Monday's game. The Waves have gone 3-6 away from home this season with one of their wins coming at CSUN. Head coach Rick Hirtensteiner is in his eighth season leading the team.
Ryan Johnson leads the team in several offensive categories including batting (.373), slugging (.814), RBI (18), runs (16) and home runs (7). Jack Basseer has driven in 10 runs on the year to go with a .265 batting average. Greg Mahlhaff and John Peck each have three homers as well for Pepperdine. On the pitching mound, Shane Telfer paces the team with a 2.89 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (11-4, 2-1 Big West) returns home to Matador Field on Monday afternoon to take on Pepperdine in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call at GoMatadors.com/Radio beginning at 1:50 p.m.
LAST WEEK'S SERIES
The Matadors opened Big West play this past weekend with a series victory at UC Davis. CSUN would win the opener on Friday in 11 innings, 6-3, before splitting a Saturday doubleheader. The Matadors dropped the first game of the twin bill by a 6-5 score but bounced back with a 9-3 win to take the series.
In Friday's opener, Lucas Braun tossed eight quality innings, allowing two runs to go with 10 strikeouts. CSUN led for most of the contest by a 2-0 score until the Aggies hit a two-run homer in the seventh. The score remained 2-2 into the 11th inning when the Matadors broke through for four runs, highlighted by Nathan Barraza's bases-clearing three-run double. Isaac Ontiveros earned the win, tossing 2.2 innings and surrendering a run.
The Matadors led 3-0 early in game one of the doubleheader before the Aggies rallied for six runs over the third and fourth innings. Barraza had two more hits including his first career home run, but it was not enough to overcome a 6-5 deficit. CSUN though took the rubber match, scoring four times in the first inning as well as five runs over the last three frames. Kenji Pallares improved to 4-0 on the season after working five innings and allowing two runs in the finale.
MATADOR HEADLINES
The series win over UC Davis was CSUN's first road series victory to open league play since the 2002 season. Since that 2002 campaign, the Matadors had previously only won two series to start Big West play in 2009 and 2018 at Matador Field.
CSUN's relief pitchers combined to toss 11.1 innings in the UC Davis series with just two runs allowed. On the season, Matador relievers have accumulated a combined 1.68 ERA while racking up four of the team's 11 wins. The staff has also limited the opposition to a .148 batting average.
After having just two at-bats entering the UC Davis series, Nathan Barraza gave the Matadors a big lift offensively throughout the three games. Barraza went 5-for-9 in the series with the Aggies, totaling six RBI including his first career home run. Bren Wilkinson also was another bright spot in the finale of the series as the Matadors' backup catcher had three hits and three RBI, both of which were season highs.
Entering play this week, Graysen Tarlow still leads The Big West in on-base percentage (.541) while he ranks second in batting (.413), sixth in RBI (17) and eighth in stolen bases (4). Jakob Simons is first in The Big West in stolen bases (9), third in runs (18) and sixth in homers (4). On the pitching side, Kenji Pallares is The Big West leader in wins with four while Lucas Braun ranks first in strikeouts (41) and second in innings pitched (30.1).
SERIES HISTORY
CSUN has already played Pepperdine three times this season with the Matadors winning two of those games. Pepperdine took the first meeting at Matador Field by a 5-4 margin, but CSUN returned the favor with a 6-5 win two days later. The scene shifted to Malibu last Monday where the Matadors claimed an 8-3 victory.
Overall, the Waves lead the Matadors 48-46-2 in the all-time series. CSUN holds a 27-23 lead in the series in games played at Matador Field.
SCOUTING PEPPERDINE
The Waves suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of Portland this past weekend to open WCC play. Pepperdine has lost six-straight games coming into Monday's game. The Waves have gone 3-6 away from home this season with one of their wins coming at CSUN. Head coach Rick Hirtensteiner is in his eighth season leading the team.
Ryan Johnson leads the team in several offensive categories including batting (.373), slugging (.814), RBI (18), runs (16) and home runs (7). Jack Basseer has driven in 10 runs on the year to go with a .265 batting average. Greg Mahlhaff and John Peck each have three homers as well for Pepperdine. On the pitching mound, Shane Telfer paces the team with a 2.89 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
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