CSUN Drops 6-5 Decision at San Diego

Tuesday, March 12

San Diego, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

9-7

San Diego

8-7

CSUN

San Diego

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Drops 6-5 Decision at San Diego

3/12/2024 10:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif.---CSUN Baseball fell by a 6-5 decision at San Diego on Tuesday evening at Fowler Park. The Matadors hit three home runs in the game while Shunsuke Sakaino and Nathan Barraza drove in two runs apiece. CSUN had runners on base in six of nine innings but fell a run short in Tuesday's non-conference game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
San Diego jumped on CSUN in the bottom of the first as two-straight walks to open the inning set the table for Jack Costello who belted a three-run homer.

Lucas Casey would enter the game after the Costello home run and give the Matadors a lift out of the bullpen. Casey retired eight of nine batters to start his outing on the mound before stranding a pair of runners in the bottom of the third.

CSUN would lean on the long ball to get back into the game beginning in the third when Jakob Simons blasted a solo homer to left center. In the fourth, the Matadors got closer on a leadoff solo home run from Barraza. Moments later, after Ben Griffin singled up the middle, Shunsuke Sakaino followed with a towering two-run homer to right field to put CSUN ahead 4-3.

The lead though was short lived as the Toreros reclaimed the lead with a two-spot in the home half of the fourth. A pair of singles began the inning then Arial Armas walked, and Justin DeCriscio was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. Dustin Allen followed with a sinking shot to center that Simons was able to grab on a diving play, but the go-ahead run scored on the sacrifice fly.

CSUN loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth inning, looking to retake the lead, but USD's Conner Thurman struck out Barraza then induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Griffin to escape the jam.

The Toreros added another run in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of three CSUN walks in the frame. Costello drove in the sixth run of the game for USD on a sacrifice fly.

Trailing 6-4, the Matadors got a run back quickly in the top of the seventh. CSUN would load the bases with one out before Barraza drove in a run on a groundout to third. The Matadors though settled for the lone run as Griffin was retired on a liner to first base.

CSUN threatened once more in the eighth with a two-out rally after Andrew Sojka and Mason Le drew walks. However, USD stayed in front as Simons flied out to left field for the third out.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN slips to 9-7 overall while San Diego improves to 8-7.
Simons' home run was his team-best eighth of the season while Barraza and Sakaino homered for the first time in 2024.
Casey worked a team-high three innings out of the bullpen with one run allowed on two hits to go with three strikeouts.
Justin Vose worked the final two innings for CSUN, striking out two batters while allowing a hit.

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"The difference in tonight's game were the eight walks and the two hit-by-pitches we issued on the mound coupled with the 13 strikeouts we had offensively. The free bases and easy outs we are giving up are killing us.

"We played well defensively so we know we can turn things around. We need to focus on what the team needs and playing for each other. It's the only way we will make noise during conference play."

UP NEXT
CSUN opens Big West play this weekend with a road series at Cal Poly. The opener is set for Friday evening at 6 p.m.

#GoMatadors