CSUN's Win Streak Snapped at #6 Oregon State

Thursday, March 7

Corvallis, Ore.

5:35 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

9-3

#6 Oregon State

12-1

CSUN

Oregon State

Photo by: Connor Clark

CSUN's Win Streak Snapped at #6 Oregon State

3/7/2024 9:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

CORVALLIS, Ore.---CSUN Baseball had its eight-game win streak snapped at No. 6 Oregon State in a 9-2 defeat on Thursday evening at Goss Stadium at Coleman Field. Thomas Bainton gave CSUN five strong innings with one run allowed to go with six strikeouts. The Matadors battled the sixth-ranked Beavers to a 1-1 tie in the sixth before Oregon State plated a five-run inning to turn the tide of the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Each side would threaten in the first inning beginning with the Matadors who picked up a one-out double from Kevin Fitzer with a runner at first. Kamau Neighbors attempted to score on the extra base hit but he was thrown out at home plate. The Beavers would load the bases with two outs against Bainton in the home half of the first, but the Matadors' right hander fanned Jacob Krieg to end the inning.

After working through the jam in the first, Bainton would go on to retire eight consecutive batters including racking up four strikeouts along the way.

CSUN broke through first in the top of the third. Neighbors began the rally with a one-out walk before Fitzer doubled down the right-field line. With runners at second and third base, Nathan Barraza drove in the game's first run on a groundout.

Bainton protected the lead until the fifth inning when the Beavers put together a two-out rally. After retiring the first two batters, Bainton allowed a single and a walk before Mason Guerra doubled in the tying run.

CSUN lifted Bainton in the sixth inning, making way for the bullpen. Oregon State would greet CSUN's relievers unkindly with a big five-run frame. After the first three batters reached to start the inning, Justin Vose was able to get a force out at home plate on a grounder from Tanner Smith, but a CSUN error at catcher allowed the go-ahead run to score. From there, the Beavers put together four-consecutive singles with Guerra capping the five-run inning on a hit to right field.

The Matadors were able to get a run back in the top of the seventh after hits from Conner Stewart and Andrew Sojka set the table for Shunsuke Sakaino to drive in a run on a fielder's choice. However, the Beavers answered with three more runs in the home half of the inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Kreig to put the game out of reach.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN falls to 9-3 overall while Oregon State improves to 12-1.
Fitzer and Stewart had two hits each in the game.
Fitzer has reached base safely in 10 straight games.
The loss was CSUN's first road defeat of the season, and the first since May 5, 2023.

UP NEXT
CSUN continues its weekend series with Oregon State on Friday at 4:05 p.m.

#GoMatadors