Saturday, May 27
Bakersfield, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
34-17, 20-10
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CSU Bakersfield
18-34, 10-20
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CSUN
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CSU Bakersfield
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Photo by: Dianne Wentz
Matadors Rally to Complete Sweep, Post Most Wins Since 2002
5/27/2023 5:13:00 PM | Baseball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (34-17, 20-10 Big West) completed a series sweep of CSU Bakersfield (18-34, 9-21 Big West) with an 11-8 come-from-behind victory in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at Hardt Field. The Matadors rallied from an early four-run deficit and scored six runs in the top of the ninth to break a 5-5 tie. Joey Kramer and Graysen Tarlow drove in three runs apiece while Ryan Wentz went seven innings out of the bullpen, striking out a career-high 10 to earn the win.
In the early innings it would be all CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners jumped on the Matadors at the outset, capitalizing on two Thomas Bainton walks in the first to bring in a run on an RBI single from Konnor Palmeira. Bainton limited the damage in the first, stranding the bases loaded, but CSUB broke through again with a big second inning. After a leadoff single, Nick Salas stroked an RBI triple then Riley Kasper added another on an RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Jacob Ruley to drive in one more run with a groundout for a 4-0 CSUB lead.
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CSUN would get a run back in the top of the third. The Matadors had runners at the corners with nobody out when Andrew Sojka hit a sacrifice fly. However, CSUN settled for one run as the next two batters were retired by Davonte Butler.
Bakersfield answered the Matadors' single tally with a run of its own in the home half of the third on a two-out RBI single from Cody Hendricks, extending the lead to 5-1.
The Matadors entered the fifth still trailing by four runs when the bats came alive. Jakob Simons began the rally with a one-out walk then Andrew Sojka singled and Tarlow reached on an infield single to produce a run. Another single from Kevin Fitzer loaded the bases before Kramer was hit by a pitch with two outs. Moments later, Mason Le, who came away with a go-ahead RBI single in Thursday's win, came through again with a two-run single to square the game at 5-5.
After giving up a run in the third, Wentz settled in on the mound and kept the Roadrunners' bats at bay. Wentz gave up a one-out double in the fourth but went on to retire 16 of the next 17 batters, only allowing a hit batter to reach base.
Wentz's impressive pitching allowed the Matador bats to again break through in the top of the ninth. In an inning where 11 batters came to the plate, Kramer belted a two-run single to break the tie, scoring Fitzer and Ali Camarillo. A Le single would put runners at the corners before Ben Griffin smacked a two-run double to right center. Two more walks loaded the bases once more, setting the table for Tarlow to drive in two more runs with another double for an 11-5 lead.
In the home half of the ninth, CSUB mounted one final rally with two outs against Wentz. A walk and hit batter allowed AJ Miller a chance to hit a three-run home run to right. Wentz though battled back to strikeout his 10th batter of the day to end the game.
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GAME NOTES
CSUN completes the regular season with 34 victories, the most for the program since winning The Big West 21 seasons ago. The Matadors would also tie Cal State Fullerton, the Big West's NCAA automatic qualifier, for second place in the conference, which is also the program's best finish since 2002. The team goes 20-10 in conference play and with its best league win percentage (.667) in 21 years while the program's eight Big West series are a new school record. The Matadors wrap up the regular season on a five-game winning streak and winners of nine of their last 12 games with series wins over Big West champion UC San Diego and possible NCAA at-large team UC Irvine during that stretch.
In addition to three-hit efforts from Andrew Sojka and Mason Le, the group of Graysen Tarlow, Ali Camarillo and Joey Kramer had two-hit games. Camarillo extended his on-base streak to 21 games, which ties his personal high he set earlier in the season.
Ryan Wentz improved to 3-2 on the season after his seven-inning relief appearance. Wentz allowed four runs on five hits while walking just one.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"Today's game was indicative of our season with the way our players continued to compete and find ways to overcome challenges. Ryan picked us up with the way he was able to go the distance and allow our offense to find a rhythm. With his ups and downs this season, he was able to pitch his best when it was needed.Â
I am very proud of this group. They have been so much fun to coach this year. As my first team as head coach, they will always hold a special place in my heart."
#GoMatadors
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In the early innings it would be all CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners jumped on the Matadors at the outset, capitalizing on two Thomas Bainton walks in the first to bring in a run on an RBI single from Konnor Palmeira. Bainton limited the damage in the first, stranding the bases loaded, but CSUB broke through again with a big second inning. After a leadoff single, Nick Salas stroked an RBI triple then Riley Kasper added another on an RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Jacob Ruley to drive in one more run with a groundout for a 4-0 CSUB lead.
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CSUN would get a run back in the top of the third. The Matadors had runners at the corners with nobody out when Andrew Sojka hit a sacrifice fly. However, CSUN settled for one run as the next two batters were retired by Davonte Butler.
Bakersfield answered the Matadors' single tally with a run of its own in the home half of the third on a two-out RBI single from Cody Hendricks, extending the lead to 5-1.
The Matadors entered the fifth still trailing by four runs when the bats came alive. Jakob Simons began the rally with a one-out walk then Andrew Sojka singled and Tarlow reached on an infield single to produce a run. Another single from Kevin Fitzer loaded the bases before Kramer was hit by a pitch with two outs. Moments later, Mason Le, who came away with a go-ahead RBI single in Thursday's win, came through again with a two-run single to square the game at 5-5.
After giving up a run in the third, Wentz settled in on the mound and kept the Roadrunners' bats at bay. Wentz gave up a one-out double in the fourth but went on to retire 16 of the next 17 batters, only allowing a hit batter to reach base.
Wentz's impressive pitching allowed the Matador bats to again break through in the top of the ninth. In an inning where 11 batters came to the plate, Kramer belted a two-run single to break the tie, scoring Fitzer and Ali Camarillo. A Le single would put runners at the corners before Ben Griffin smacked a two-run double to right center. Two more walks loaded the bases once more, setting the table for Tarlow to drive in two more runs with another double for an 11-5 lead.
In the home half of the ninth, CSUB mounted one final rally with two outs against Wentz. A walk and hit batter allowed AJ Miller a chance to hit a three-run home run to right. Wentz though battled back to strikeout his 10th batter of the day to end the game.
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GAME NOTES
CSUN completes the regular season with 34 victories, the most for the program since winning The Big West 21 seasons ago. The Matadors would also tie Cal State Fullerton, the Big West's NCAA automatic qualifier, for second place in the conference, which is also the program's best finish since 2002. The team goes 20-10 in conference play and with its best league win percentage (.667) in 21 years while the program's eight Big West series are a new school record. The Matadors wrap up the regular season on a five-game winning streak and winners of nine of their last 12 games with series wins over Big West champion UC San Diego and possible NCAA at-large team UC Irvine during that stretch.
In addition to three-hit efforts from Andrew Sojka and Mason Le, the group of Graysen Tarlow, Ali Camarillo and Joey Kramer had two-hit games. Camarillo extended his on-base streak to 21 games, which ties his personal high he set earlier in the season.
Ryan Wentz improved to 3-2 on the season after his seven-inning relief appearance. Wentz allowed four runs on five hits while walking just one.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"Today's game was indicative of our season with the way our players continued to compete and find ways to overcome challenges. Ryan picked us up with the way he was able to go the distance and allow our offense to find a rhythm. With his ups and downs this season, he was able to pitch his best when it was needed.Â
I am very proud of this group. They have been so much fun to coach this year. As my first team as head coach, they will always hold a special place in my heart."
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wentz, Ryan (3-2)
L: Gutierrez, Jacob (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Camarillo, Ali 1 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Griffin, Ben 1
RBI: Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Tarlow, Graysen 3 ; Kramer, Joey 3 ; Le, Mason 2 ; Griffin, Ben 2
SF: Sojka, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Tarlow, Graysen 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 2 ; Camarillo, Ali 1 ; Kramer, Joey 1 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Griffin, Ben 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 2
SB: Le, Mason 1
HBP: Kramer, Joey 1
Batting:
2B: Kurata, Matt 1
3B: Salas, Nick 1
HR: Miller, AJ 1
RBI: Kasper, Riley 1 ; Ruley, Jacob 1 ; Miller, AJ 3 ; Palmeira, Konnor 1 ; Hendriks, Cody 1 ; Salas, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kasper, Riley 2 ; Kurata, Matt 1 ; Ruley, Jacob 1 ; Miller, AJ 1 ; Bell, James 1 ; Hendriks, Cody 1 ; Salas, Nick 1
SB: Kurata, Matt 1 ; Hendriks, Cody 1
HBP: Ruley, Jacob 1 ; Hendriks, Cody 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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4
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3
RBI
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AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
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Players Mentioned
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