Friday, February 23
St. George, Utah
5:05 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
at
Utah Tech
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Heads to Utah Tech This Weekend
2/22/2024 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
FULL GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (2-2) continues a four-game road trip with a weekend series against Utah Tech. The series opens Friday at 5:05 p.m. PT followed by a Saturday matchup at 1:05 p.m. PT and a Sunday series finale at 11:05 a.m. PT. All live stats and live video links are available at the CSUN Baseball schedule page.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
CSUN at Utah Tech
RHP Thomas Bainton (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Gardner (0-1, 17.18 ERA)
RHP Ryan Halamicek (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. LHP Carston Herman (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
RHP Braden Wauschek (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Ky Decker (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
LEADING OFF
CSUN makes its first-ever trip to St. George, Utah this weekend. The Matadors and Utah Tech have never played a three-game series in team history. Following this weekend's road series, CSUN returns home to open a four-game homestand starting Tuesday against San Diego. The Matadors will host Nevada in a three-game series beginning next Friday, March 1 at Matador Field.
LAST TIME OUT
CSUN snapped a two-game losing streak with a 7-5 midweek win over San Diego State on Wednesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Matadors' offense produced just five hits but took advantage of six Aztec errors including three in a pivotal two-run top of the eighth. In total, CSUN scored six unearned runs in the game. The Matadors led 4-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh before the Aztecs went ahead on a grand slam. CSUN would respond with two runs in the eighth as both runs scored on errors from San Diego State pitching while attempting to field bunts. Jakob Simons delivered an insurance run in the ninth via a solo homer while Joshua Romero recorded the final six outs, all by strikeouts, to nail down the save.
Diego Gutierrez made his first start and appearance since the 2022 season as he tossed 4.1 innings, allowing one unearned run to go with six strikeouts. Both Simons and Kevin Fitzer had two hits apiece.
OFF TO A HOT START
Graduate outfielder Jakob Simons is off to a quick start to 2024, slashing .467/.579/1.067. Simons has two homers on the year to go with five RBI, four runs and three doubles. Junior outfielder Kevin Fitzer is also hitting above the .300 mark at a .313 clip while he has slugged .625 and drove in two runs.
Out of the bullpen, closer Joshua Romero nailed down his first save of the season on Wednesday at San Diego State. Romero has not allowed a run in 3.1 innings of work. Junior right hander and newcomer Blake Ignaciak has made three appearances and yet to give up a run in 3.2 innings.
ON THE MOUND
Junior right hander Thomas Bainton makes his second Friday start of the season this week. Bainton allowed two runs in four innings of work in his first start, a no decision, against Utah Valley. Freshman right hander Ryan Halamicek, Saturday's starter, received a hard luck loss against Utah Valley last week where he gave up two runs in five innings. Another freshman righty, Braden Wauschek is making his first career start after debuting last week out of the bullpen and allowing three runs in 1.2 innings.
SCOUTING UTAH TECH
The Trailblazers are 1-4 in the early season. Utah Tech hosted Washington State in a four-game series to open the season as the Cougars took three of four games. This past Tuesday, Utah Tech dropped a 24-4 decision to Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. Last season, Utah Tech finished 13-39 with an 8-22 record in the WAC. The team was picked to finish 11th in the WAC this season. Chase Rodriguez tops the team with a .385 hitting average while Hunter Katschke is batting .368 with two homers and four RBI. Carston Herman is the team's top returning strikeout leader with 49 last season in 52 innings. Head coach Chris Pfatenhauer is in his 12th season leading the program.
Series History: CSUN has played Utah Tech just once ever in baseball. The teams did battle at Matador Field on March 22, 2022 with CSUN coming out on top 6-4.
#GoMatadors
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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (2-2) continues a four-game road trip with a weekend series against Utah Tech. The series opens Friday at 5:05 p.m. PT followed by a Saturday matchup at 1:05 p.m. PT and a Sunday series finale at 11:05 a.m. PT. All live stats and live video links are available at the CSUN Baseball schedule page.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
CSUN at Utah Tech
RHP Thomas Bainton (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Gardner (0-1, 17.18 ERA)
RHP Ryan Halamicek (0-1, 3.60 ERA) vs. LHP Carston Herman (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
RHP Braden Wauschek (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Ky Decker (0-1, 9.00 ERA)
LEADING OFF
CSUN makes its first-ever trip to St. George, Utah this weekend. The Matadors and Utah Tech have never played a three-game series in team history. Following this weekend's road series, CSUN returns home to open a four-game homestand starting Tuesday against San Diego. The Matadors will host Nevada in a three-game series beginning next Friday, March 1 at Matador Field.
LAST TIME OUT
CSUN snapped a two-game losing streak with a 7-5 midweek win over San Diego State on Wednesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Matadors' offense produced just five hits but took advantage of six Aztec errors including three in a pivotal two-run top of the eighth. In total, CSUN scored six unearned runs in the game. The Matadors led 4-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh before the Aztecs went ahead on a grand slam. CSUN would respond with two runs in the eighth as both runs scored on errors from San Diego State pitching while attempting to field bunts. Jakob Simons delivered an insurance run in the ninth via a solo homer while Joshua Romero recorded the final six outs, all by strikeouts, to nail down the save.
Diego Gutierrez made his first start and appearance since the 2022 season as he tossed 4.1 innings, allowing one unearned run to go with six strikeouts. Both Simons and Kevin Fitzer had two hits apiece.
OFF TO A HOT START
Graduate outfielder Jakob Simons is off to a quick start to 2024, slashing .467/.579/1.067. Simons has two homers on the year to go with five RBI, four runs and three doubles. Junior outfielder Kevin Fitzer is also hitting above the .300 mark at a .313 clip while he has slugged .625 and drove in two runs.
Out of the bullpen, closer Joshua Romero nailed down his first save of the season on Wednesday at San Diego State. Romero has not allowed a run in 3.1 innings of work. Junior right hander and newcomer Blake Ignaciak has made three appearances and yet to give up a run in 3.2 innings.
ON THE MOUND
Junior right hander Thomas Bainton makes his second Friday start of the season this week. Bainton allowed two runs in four innings of work in his first start, a no decision, against Utah Valley. Freshman right hander Ryan Halamicek, Saturday's starter, received a hard luck loss against Utah Valley last week where he gave up two runs in five innings. Another freshman righty, Braden Wauschek is making his first career start after debuting last week out of the bullpen and allowing three runs in 1.2 innings.
SCOUTING UTAH TECH
The Trailblazers are 1-4 in the early season. Utah Tech hosted Washington State in a four-game series to open the season as the Cougars took three of four games. This past Tuesday, Utah Tech dropped a 24-4 decision to Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. Last season, Utah Tech finished 13-39 with an 8-22 record in the WAC. The team was picked to finish 11th in the WAC this season. Chase Rodriguez tops the team with a .385 hitting average while Hunter Katschke is batting .368 with two homers and four RBI. Carston Herman is the team's top returning strikeout leader with 49 last season in 52 innings. Head coach Chris Pfatenhauer is in his 12th season leading the program.
Series History: CSUN has played Utah Tech just once ever in baseball. The teams did battle at Matador Field on March 22, 2022 with CSUN coming out on top 6-4.
#GoMatadors
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