Tuesday, March 18
Northridge, Calif.
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
3-14
12
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Columbia
4-11
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Columbia
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CSUN
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5
12
12
0
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Bats Explode in 12-2 Win Over Columbia
3/18/2025 6:10:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball pounded out 12 hits including seven extra base hits in a 12-2 seven-inning run-rule win over Columbia on Tuesday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. Kyle Panganiban finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored while Matthew Kurata drove in three and homered in the win. Freshman Max Mendes gave CSUN a lift on the mound, working three shutout innings in his first career start to pick up the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mendes retired eight of the first nine batters to open the game while he worked around a pair of walks in the third inning, stranding both on the base paths.
Meanwhile, the Matadors struck first on the back of a leadoff triple from Roberto Gonzalez who later scored on a wild pitch. A triple would lead to another run scoring in the third as Will Linberg collected a triple before scoring on an Andrew Becker groundout.
CSUN would add to its lead in the fourth inning when Tyler Mejia doubled in Kyle Panganiban from first base on a drive to right center. Later in the frame, Mejia stole third base and touched home plate on a throwing error from catcher Anthony Temesvary.
Columbia was held hitless until the fifth inning when Tate Vogler collected a leadoff single. Mejia, who moved to the mound in the inning, would later pick off Vogler at first base before striking out two of the next three batters.
The Lions would finally get on the scoreboard in the sixth on a solo home run from Anton Lazits, but CSUN quickly responded with a big bottom of the sixth. All with two outs, Panganiban roped a double to keep the inning alive while Mejia drew a walk and Kurata followed with a three-run homer to left for a 7-1 lead.
In the seventh, Columbia scratched across a run to cut the lead to five, but the Matadors had an answer in the home half. Linberg collected his second extra base hit of the game, a double that plated Gonzalez while Becker drove in another run via an RBI single. Moments later, Jarren Sanderson smacked a two-run homer to left field, making it an 11-2 game. Still with nobody out, a hit batter and Panganiban's fourth hit of the game followed before a balk and a wild pitch allowed CSUN's 12th run to score, triggering the run rule.
NOTES OF THE GAME
"I think today started with Max Mendes giving us a quality start. It gave the offense a little bit of an opportunity to breathe. Robby came up with a leadoff triple and we were able to score [in the first inning]. We built off both of their momentums and the hits kept coming, and they made key mistakes that let us off a little easy. We were on the receiving end of a lot of freebies that we capitalized on. It's good to get a win, but like I told the players, just like when we lose, we have to flush today and go back to work tomorrow."
UP NEXT
CSUN returns to the road this weekend for a Big West series with Cal State Bakersfield. The opener is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Mendes retired eight of the first nine batters to open the game while he worked around a pair of walks in the third inning, stranding both on the base paths.
Meanwhile, the Matadors struck first on the back of a leadoff triple from Roberto Gonzalez who later scored on a wild pitch. A triple would lead to another run scoring in the third as Will Linberg collected a triple before scoring on an Andrew Becker groundout.
CSUN would add to its lead in the fourth inning when Tyler Mejia doubled in Kyle Panganiban from first base on a drive to right center. Later in the frame, Mejia stole third base and touched home plate on a throwing error from catcher Anthony Temesvary.
Columbia was held hitless until the fifth inning when Tate Vogler collected a leadoff single. Mejia, who moved to the mound in the inning, would later pick off Vogler at first base before striking out two of the next three batters.
The Lions would finally get on the scoreboard in the sixth on a solo home run from Anton Lazits, but CSUN quickly responded with a big bottom of the sixth. All with two outs, Panganiban roped a double to keep the inning alive while Mejia drew a walk and Kurata followed with a three-run homer to left for a 7-1 lead.
In the seventh, Columbia scratched across a run to cut the lead to five, but the Matadors had an answer in the home half. Linberg collected his second extra base hit of the game, a double that plated Gonzalez while Becker drove in another run via an RBI single. Moments later, Jarren Sanderson smacked a two-run homer to left field, making it an 11-2 game. Still with nobody out, a hit batter and Panganiban's fourth hit of the game followed before a balk and a wild pitch allowed CSUN's 12th run to score, triggering the run rule.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 3-14 overall while Columbia slips to 4-11.
- With the win, Mendes is now 2-0 on the season.
- Linberg finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Becker drove in two runs and scored.
- Gonzalez has now reached base in 16 straight games.
- CSUN's bullpen worked four combined innings between five pitcher with two runs allowed.
- Hayden Hall tossed a shutout fourth inning while Mejia worked 1.2 innings with a run allowed.
- Noah Rinehart recorded the final two outs in the seventh.
"I think today started with Max Mendes giving us a quality start. It gave the offense a little bit of an opportunity to breathe. Robby came up with a leadoff triple and we were able to score [in the first inning]. We built off both of their momentums and the hits kept coming, and they made key mistakes that let us off a little easy. We were on the receiving end of a lot of freebies that we capitalized on. It's good to get a win, but like I told the players, just like when we lose, we have to flush today and go back to work tomorrow."
UP NEXT
CSUN returns to the road this weekend for a Big West series with Cal State Bakersfield. The opener is set for Friday at 6:30 p.m.
#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mendes, Max (2-0)
L: Murphy,Brendan (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Lazits,Anton 1
RBI: Fishel,Ben 1 ; Lazits,Anton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lazits,Anton 1 ; Vogler,Tate 1
SB: Fishel,Ben 1
PO: Vogler,Tate 1
Batting:
2B: Linberg, Will 1 ; Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Mejia, Tyler 1
3B: Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Linberg, Will 1
HR: Sanderson, Jarren 1 ; Kurata, Matthew 1
RBI: Linberg, Will 1 ; Becker, Andrew 2 ; Sanderson, Jarren 2 ; Mejia, Tyler 1 ; Kurata, Matthew 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Gonzalez, Roberto 2 ; Linberg, Will 2 ; Becker, Andrew 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 1 ; Panganiban, Kyle 3 ; Mejia, Tyler 2 ; Kurata, Matthew 1
SB: Mejia, Tyler 1
CS: Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Gauna, Andrew 1
HBP: Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Boardman, Colton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
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