California State University at Northridge
8-2
Nevada
4-5
CSUN Downs Nevada 16-1 to Clinch Series
3/1/2024 4:37:00 PM | Baseball
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wolf Pack struck first in the game, producing a pair of hits to start followed by an RBI groundout from Nolan Wilson. Halamicek walked the next batter but prevented further damage by inducing a 6-4-3 double play to keep the deficit at 1-0.
CSUN quickly responded in the home half of the first as the Matadors loaded the bases with nobody out before Ben Griffin drew a walk to force in the tying run. Barraza followed with a two-run single to give the Matadors a 3-1 lead. An inning later, Kevin Fitzer delivered with a two-out RBI single to stretch the lead to three.
Halamicek settled down after the first inning to allow just one hit over the next four frames. The freshman had to work out of trouble in the sixth when he yielded a hit by pitch and an infield single, but Halamicek retired the next two in order.
The Matadors were blanked in the third and fourth innings before getting back in the run column in the fifth when Mason Le knocked in two runs on a two-out double. The fifth inning would be the start of four consecutive multiple-run frames.
In the sixth, CSUN forced the issue on the base paths with three stolen bases in the inning. A Kamau Neighbors' steal of second base led to a throwing error as Jakob Simons raced home for a run. Another error occurred on an Andrew Sojka grounder, leading to Neighbors coming around to score for an 8-1 lead. An inning later, the Matadors plated another run when Nevada committed a throwing error on a Bren Wilkinson comebacker to the mound. Simons drove in CSUN's 10th run on a fielder's choice as well in the seventh inning
CSUN's big inning was yet to come though as the Matadors sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run bottom of the eighth inning. Sojka added to his RBI total with a double while pinch hitter Jarren Sanderson hit a three-run double later in the inning. Barraza capped off the frame with a two-out RBI single to extend the lead to 16-1.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 8-2 on the season while Nevada falls to 4-5.
- CSUN's seven-game win streak is the program's longest since 2020.
- The Matadors had eight stolen bases on Friday, one short of a team record.
- A total of 11 Matadors scored at least once while nine recorded hits.
- Out of the bullpen, Joshua Martinez and Hayden Cody combined to toss the last three innings as Martinez worked a shutout seventh and Cody retired the final six batters.
- Simons has now reached base safely in 10 consecutive games while Fitzer has reached in eight in a row.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"From the start, we displayed good discipline offensively and we were able to minimize in that first inning. I think that was the biggest momentum swing of the game. We continued offensively every inning to put pressure on them. Today was one of the more complete games we played."
UP NEXT
In an effort to avoid inclement weather, CSUN's series finale with Nevada will now be played on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Halamicek, Ryan (2-1)
L: MARKS, Easton (1-1)
Batting:
2B: ACAL, Justin 1 ; FREETHY, JR 1
RBI: WILSON, Nolan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PIERCE, Jesse 1
HBP: PIERCE, Jesse 1 ; BAUSER, Jeff 1
Batting:
2B: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Le, Mason 1
RBI: Simons, Jakob 1 ; Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 3 ; Griffin, Ben 1 ; Barraza, Nathan 3 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Le, Mason 2
SH: Sojka, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simons, Jakob 3 ; Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Neighbors, Kamau 2 ; Fitzer, Kevin 2 ; Linberg, Will 1 ; Barraza, Nathan 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 2 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1 ; Wilkinson, Bren 1
SB: Simons, Jakob 2 ; Neighbors, Kamau 2 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Le, Mason 1 ; Sakaino, Shunsuke 1
CS: Griffin, Ben 1 ; Wilkinson, Bren 1
HBP: Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Neighbors, Kamau 1 ; Fitzer, Kevin 1 ; Sojka, Andrew 1 ; Wilkinson, Bren 1
