Simons' Walk-Off Homer Lifts CSUN Over Nevada

Thursday, February 29

Northridge, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

7-2

Nevada

4-4

Nevada

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

Simons' Walk-Off Homer Lifts CSUN Over Nevada

2/29/2024 9:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---Jakob Simons belted a walk-off three-run homer with two outs in the ninth to lift CSUN to a 6-4 win over Nevada on Thursday at Matador Field. Ben Griffin collected two hits and two RBI in the win while Thomas Bainton worked seven innings and allowed two runs on the mound. CSUN extended its winning streak to six games.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN took a 3-2 lead to the top of the ninth before Nevada rallied for two runs. Jake Harvey blooped in the game-tying run while Joshua Romero nearly induced an inning-ending double play, but Jessie Pierce beat the relay back to first base, driving in the go-ahead run in Derek Tenney.

Trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, the Matadors had their first two batters retired by Nico Wagner. However, Andrew Sojka kept the inning alive with a single then Mason Le followed with a single of his own to put runners at the corners. Simons stepped to the plate with the game on the line and hit a towering three-run homer on the first pitch of the at bat, sending the Matador faithful into a frenzy.

Earlier in the game, Nevada struck first in the top of the second inning against Bainton. The Wolf Pack had three consecutive hits to begin the frame with Taylor Holder collecting a two-run double for a 2-0. Bainton though limited the damage by retiring the next three batters to keep the deficit at 2-0.

CSUN battled back to within 2-1 in the home half of the second. Griffin and Kamau Neighbors opened the inning with singles before Sojka brought home CSUN's first run on an RBI groundout.

Bainton settled down after the two-run second to blank the Wolf Pack over the next five innings. The right hander pitched around two hits in the fourth and eventually retired nine consecutive Nevada batters. He would strand two more base runners in the seventh inning as well.

Meanwhile, the Matadors pulled in front in the bottom of the sixth. Simons began the rally in the inning with a single before stealing second base. After a Shunsuke Sakaino walk, a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Fitzer followed by a timely two-out single from Griffin plated two runs for a CSUN 3-2 lead.

The combination of Justin Vose and Hayden Hall worked a shutout eighth inning on the mound, setting the stage for the thrilling ninth inning.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 7-2 on the season while Nevada slips to 4-4.
Simons homered for the sixth time this season while he has reached base in all nine games.
Bainton finished with a no decision while he allowed just his two runs on five hits to go with five strikeouts.
Joshua Romero received the victory in the game, his third of the season, as he recorded two outs and allowed a hit.

GHIZAL HASAN'S CALL OF JAKOB SIMONS' HOME RUN

Jakob Simons calls game. @CSUNBaseball rallies back to win series opener against Nevada. pic.twitter.com/dFbhBbSdZ3
— Baron "Suge" Zemo (@GhizalHasan) March 1, 2024

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"In hindsight, we're going to dwell on this game quite a bit as a coaching staff for the decisions I made. I'll have to really see if we could get that fixed. Baseball is an interesting game. Players ultimately have to take matters into their own hands and pick up coaches.

"[Simons] has carried us. He's a special person and a special player. I think teams will learn with a base open to not pitch to him. He's proven that. I'm really happy for him. He deserves all the success he's achieving so far. Hopefully, he stays with it."

UP NEXT
Weather permitting, CSUN will continue its weekend series with Nevada on Friday at noon at Matador Field. Stay tuned to GoMatadors.com for any possible schedule changes to this weekend's series.

#GoMatadors