Saturday, April 22
Northridge, Calif.
2:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
23-10, 10-4
10
vs
6
Cal Poly
13-23, 7-10
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9
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Cal Poly
0
3
0
0
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0
0
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6
15
1
CSUN
0
0
0
0
1
0
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6
X
10
12
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Photo by: Dianne Wentz
Matadors Clinch Series Win with Another Comeback Victory
4/22/2023 6:21:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (23-10, 10-4 Big West) came from behind for a second-straight day as the Matadors clinched a series win with a 10-6 triumph over Cal Poly on Saturday at Matador Field. Mason Le hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning while Joey Kramer homered twice and drove in three runs. The Matadors scored nine times over their final two at bats, erasing a late two-run deficit.
In similar fashion to yesterday's come-from-behind win, the Matadors' offense would come alive in the late innings. CSUN would erase a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh when Kramer blasted a two-run home run. The Matadors eventually took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on a squeeze bunt single from Graysen Tarlow that scored Brandon Leon with two outs. Cal Poly evened the game up in the top of the eighth on a solo home run courtesy of Collin Villegas but the Matadors had an answer in the eighth.
In the home half of the eighth, the Matadors would get two runners on base with one out for Le. After coming into the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth, Le came through in a big way with a three-run homer to left field to give CSUN the lead right back at 7-4. The Matadors were just getting started though as CSUN scored three more times all with two outs, highlighted by a two-run triple from Ali Camarillo.
CSUN led 10-4 heading to the top of the ninth, however, Cal Poly battled back for two runs in the frame. Called upon with two outs in the inning, Joshua Romero recorded the final out and stranded two runners on base.
Earlier in the day, the Mustangs once again jumped on CSUN early. In the top of the second, a double from Wyatt King followed by a two-run home run from Kemet Brown down the right-field line put Cal Poly on top. The Mustangs would add another run on three consecutive singles as Ryan Stafford made it a 3-0 game on an RBI hit.
Steven Brooks slowed down the Matador bats over his six innings of work on the mound. Brooks stranded runners at the corners in the first inning when he struck out the last two batters of the frame. CSUN also left runners at the corners in the third inning as Brooks shut out the Matadors through the first four innings.
Kramer would hit the first of his two home runs to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning but Brooks went on to retire six of the next seven batters.
On the pitching side, Thomas Bainton tossed five innings, allowing just the three runs in the second inning. Brayden Hiraki worked a scoreless top of the sixth while Hayden Cody surrendered a run on two hits over two innings en route to earning the victory.
GAME NOTES
The Matadors won their 10th-straight game at Matador Field. CSUN also earned its first series win over Cal Poly since the 2018 season.
Jakob Simons finished 3-for-5 at the plate for his team-best 15th multiple-hit game. Shunsuke Sakaino and Simons stretched their respective on-base streaks to 20 and 13 games, respectively.
Cody improved to 2-0 on the season after his two-inning stint. Joshua Romero notched his eighth save of the season, which ties him with Phil Polanco (2004) and Blake Schriever (2022) for the eighth-most saves in a season in team history.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"My message to the team was, yes, the outcome was ideal to win the series, but we still need to continue to get better if we're to keep the standard high. I've been on good teams like the one we have, and in the same position in conference like we are, and we have squandered it. When I look back at what were the reasons, they were similar to what we saw today. Low energy in the dugout, throwing at bats away early and not excited to take a series from someone. I'm glad we were able to put it together in the end. I tried to save our closer for tomorrow but unfortunately, I had to use him. I just want them to be better and have a different mentality tomorrow.
Â
I can't say enough about Joey and his defense today. He made some good plays defensively. He is very real about his performance so far and has not taken anything for granted. That attitude propelled him and us to a win. He carried us today."
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up its weekend series with Cal Poly on Sunday at 1 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Tony Moskal are on the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
In similar fashion to yesterday's come-from-behind win, the Matadors' offense would come alive in the late innings. CSUN would erase a 3-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh when Kramer blasted a two-run home run. The Matadors eventually took a 4-3 lead in the seventh on a squeeze bunt single from Graysen Tarlow that scored Brandon Leon with two outs. Cal Poly evened the game up in the top of the eighth on a solo home run courtesy of Collin Villegas but the Matadors had an answer in the eighth.
In the home half of the eighth, the Matadors would get two runners on base with one out for Le. After coming into the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth, Le came through in a big way with a three-run homer to left field to give CSUN the lead right back at 7-4. The Matadors were just getting started though as CSUN scored three more times all with two outs, highlighted by a two-run triple from Ali Camarillo.
CSUN led 10-4 heading to the top of the ninth, however, Cal Poly battled back for two runs in the frame. Called upon with two outs in the inning, Joshua Romero recorded the final out and stranded two runners on base.
Earlier in the day, the Mustangs once again jumped on CSUN early. In the top of the second, a double from Wyatt King followed by a two-run home run from Kemet Brown down the right-field line put Cal Poly on top. The Mustangs would add another run on three consecutive singles as Ryan Stafford made it a 3-0 game on an RBI hit.
Steven Brooks slowed down the Matador bats over his six innings of work on the mound. Brooks stranded runners at the corners in the first inning when he struck out the last two batters of the frame. CSUN also left runners at the corners in the third inning as Brooks shut out the Matadors through the first four innings.
Kramer would hit the first of his two home runs to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning but Brooks went on to retire six of the next seven batters.
On the pitching side, Thomas Bainton tossed five innings, allowing just the three runs in the second inning. Brayden Hiraki worked a scoreless top of the sixth while Hayden Cody surrendered a run on two hits over two innings en route to earning the victory.
GAME NOTES
The Matadors won their 10th-straight game at Matador Field. CSUN also earned its first series win over Cal Poly since the 2018 season.
Jakob Simons finished 3-for-5 at the plate for his team-best 15th multiple-hit game. Shunsuke Sakaino and Simons stretched their respective on-base streaks to 20 and 13 games, respectively.
Cody improved to 2-0 on the season after his two-inning stint. Joshua Romero notched his eighth save of the season, which ties him with Phil Polanco (2004) and Blake Schriever (2022) for the eighth-most saves in a season in team history.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"My message to the team was, yes, the outcome was ideal to win the series, but we still need to continue to get better if we're to keep the standard high. I've been on good teams like the one we have, and in the same position in conference like we are, and we have squandered it. When I look back at what were the reasons, they were similar to what we saw today. Low energy in the dugout, throwing at bats away early and not excited to take a series from someone. I'm glad we were able to put it together in the end. I tried to save our closer for tomorrow but unfortunately, I had to use him. I just want them to be better and have a different mentality tomorrow.
Â
I can't say enough about Joey and his defense today. He made some good plays defensively. He is very real about his performance so far and has not taken anything for granted. That attitude propelled him and us to a win. He carried us today."
UP NEXT
CSUN wraps up its weekend series with Cal Poly on Sunday at 1 p.m. Ghizal Hasan and Tony Moskal are on the call on ESPN+ and GoMatadors.com/Radio.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cody, Hayden (2-0)
L: Sheedy, Kaden (1-2)
S: Romero, Joshua (8)
Batting:
2B: King, Wyatt 1
HR: Villegas, Collin 1 ; Brown, Kemet 1
RBI: Stafford, Ryan 1 ; Yorke, Joe 2 ; Villegas, Collin 1 ; Brown, Kemet 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Steels, Jake 2 ; Stafford, Ryan 1 ; Villegas, Collin 1 ; King, Wyatt 1 ; Brown, Kemet 1
SB: Brown, Kemet 1
CS: Casillas, Aaron 1
HBP: Brown, Kemet 1
Batting:
2B: Simons, Jakob 2
3B: Camarillo, Ali 1
HR: Kramer, Joey 2 ; Le, Mason 1
RBI: Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Camarillo, Ali 2 ; Kramer, Joey 3 ; Le, Mason 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Cook, Elijah 1 ; Neighbors, Kamau 1 ; Kramer, Joey 3 ; Leon, Brandon 1 ; Le, Mason 1
SB: Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Cook, Elijah 1
HBP: Tarlow, Graysen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
3b/1b
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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