CSUN Knocks Off #13 UC Irvine to Even Series

Friday, May 24

Irvine, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

30-23, 16-13

#13 UC Irvine

42-12, 21-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	3	0	9	0	0	0	2	0	0	14	12	0
UC Irvine	2	1	0	0	0	4	1	1	0	9	13	3

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Knocks Off #13 UC Irvine to Even Series

5/24/2024 10:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball upset No. 13 UC Irvine behind a big nine-run top of the third for a 14-9 victory on Friday at Anteater Ballpark. Jarren Sanderson drove in five runs and finished with three hits including a homer while Shunsuke Sakaino had two hits and three RBI. Ryan Halamicek notched his sixth win of the season after pitching into the sixth inning and allowing four runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors jumped on the Anteaters at the outset of the ballgame. After the first batter was retired to start the frame, the next five Matador batters reached base. Sanderson got CSUN on the scoreboard with an RBI single before Andrew Sojka singled and Nathan Barraza followed with an RBI single to center. The inning would stay alive when Kevin Fitzer reached on a throw error by Jo Oyama, allowing Sojka to score from third and make it a 3-0 game.

The three-run lead would be quickly trimmed to 3-2 in the home half of the first. UCI collected four hits in the inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Caden Kendle and an RBI double from Dub Gleed. Halamicek though limited the damage by inducing an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

An inning later, UC Irvine evened the game on a leadoff solo homer from Chase Call.

The tide would turn in the third inning when the Matadors sent 13 base runners to the plate in a big nine-run outburst. Jakob Simons and Sanderson began the inning with back-to-back singles before Sojka laced an RBI single down the left-field line to put CSUN ahead. After Barraza reached on an error to load the bases, Kevin Fitzer delivered a sacrifice fly to bring in another run. CSUN would have runners at second and third base with two outs before the next six batters reached base. Mason Le and Kamau Neighbors drew consecutive walks to force in a run then Sakaino rifled a three-run double to left center. Following a Simons walk, Sanderson hammered a three-run home run for a 12-3 lead.

?? Jarren Sanderson unloads for 3-RUN BOMB to left!

CSUN puts up a 9 spot in the 3rd. #GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/RjsSmzBhWq
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) May 25, 2024

Halamicek settled in on the mound after the second inning, producing three consecutive shutout frames. UCI though knocked out Halamicek in the sixth with two doubles, to cut the deficit to 12-4.

The Anteaters threatened further in the sixth when four-straight batters reached, producing two more runs against reliever Diego Gutierrez. Hayden Hall entered the fray looking to stop the rally as he retired the first batter on a groundout. Caden Kendle though drew a walk to load the bases with two outs bringing power hitter Anthony Martinez to the plate. With CSUN holding onto a 12-7 lead, Martinez drove a 1-1 pitch deep into right center, but Sojka ran down the fly ball for the final out of the inning.

The Matadors were able to get two runs back in the top of the seventh on just one hit. CSUN loaded the bases with nobody out for Sanderson who grounded in a run on a fielder's choice. Sanderson later stole third base and took home plate on an errant throw from catcher Abraham Garcia-Pacheco.

UCI would continue to chip away at the lead with single tallies in the seventh and eighth innings, but CSUN's closer Joshua Romero came out of the bullpen to stop the uprising. Romero entered with runners at second and third base and two outs in the eighth before he struck out Call. He would pitch a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure a CSUN win.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves tom 30-23 overall and 16-13 in Big West play. UC Irvine falls to 42-12 overall and 21-8 in conference.
The Matadors have won 30 or more games in three-straight seasons for the first time since 1996-98.
Sanderson's five RBI are the most by a CSUN freshman since Andrew Lucas in 2019.
Sakaino registered his 17th multi-hit game of the season.
Sojka finished with three hits to go with two runs scored.

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"The message was to go for it, and to not play cautious and to not play careful because we know that doesn't work. I'm trying to get them to play freer. They helped us out a bit with a few runners on base. Shun and Sanderson had big days for us -- they picked us up and we kind of stayed aggressive. I liked how Halamicek continued to pound the zone. I tip our cap to our defense. Even though we were shaky at the end of last game, we've been making some good plays such as Sojka making the play at the wall with the bases loaded, which saved the game. Shun also made a play in the four hole as well. I'm proud of the defense overall.

"We don't have anything to lose [going into tomorrow]. We haven't been playing well down the stretch. Even when things got shaky with Halamicek there. I ran out there to remind him that we're going for it and I don't care if they hit it. We're not going to pitch scared and we're not going to play scared. We're going to play our brand of baseball. It was important for us to get this win. Hopefully we can finish this off the right way."

UP NEXT
CSUN closes the 2024 season with the rubber game against UC Irvine on Saturday at 1 p.m.

#GoMatadors