Sunday, March 2
Norman, Okla.
11:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
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#16 Oklahoma
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CSUN
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Oklahoma
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Photo by: Chuck Marvel
#16 Oklahoma Rallies Late to Beat CSUN, 3-2
3/2/2025 1:56:00 PM | Baseball
NORMAN, Okla.---CSUN Baseball received a solid pitching effort from Diego Gutierrez on Sunday, but No. 16 Oklahoma rallied against the Matador bullpen for a 3-2 win on Sunday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Gutierrez worked 5.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits to go with four strikeouts. Andrew Becker and Elijah Fairchild each drove in runs for CSUN in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a pitcher's duel on Sunday with Gutierrez and Oklahoma's Cameron Johnson trading zeroes on the scoreboard.
CSUN was turned away in the top of the first despite loading the bases with two outs. Johnson would go on to retire seven in a row to keep CSUN scoreless through the first three innings.
The Matadors though broke through in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out walk from Matthew Pena began the rally before Tyler Mejia doubled and Becker pushed across the run with a squeeze play. CSUN eventually loaded the bases with one out but settled for the one run as Johnson retired Fairchild and Roberto Gonzalez to get out of the jam.
On the flip side, Gutierrez frustrated the Sooner bats throughout most of his outing on the mound. Gutierrez retired the first five batters of the game before working his way out of trouble in the second, stranding two base runners. Oklahoma had a leadoff single in the third, but Gutierrez picked off the base runner then sat down the next two batters. He would go on to retire six of seven batters to take a 1-0 lead to the sixth.
CSUN would double its lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. With a runner at first base, Xavier Rios reached on a bunt single. The next batter, Fairchild, singled through the left side to bring home Rios for a 2-0 lead. However, CSUN would settle for just the one run when Gonzalez flied out.
With a two-run lead, Gutierrez began the sixth with an out but yielded back-to-back singles. A sacrifice fly from Sam Christiansen cut the CSUN lead to 2-1 before a walk spelled the end of Gutierrez's time on the mound. Calix Armijo entered out of the bullpen and struck out Dayton Tockey to keep CSUN ahead.
Held at bay for most of the day, Oklahoma broke through in the seventh to take the lead. The first three batters reached to start the inning with Dawson Willis tying the game on an RBI double. Gabriel Hernandez relieved Armijo looking to stop the rally, and proceeded to get Trey Gambill to bounce into a fielder's choice, but the go-ahead run came around to score. Hernandez would finally retire two of the next three batters to keep CSUN within 3-2.
CSUN looked to rally in its last at bat in the ninth when Fairchild and Gonzalez drew walks to start. Colton Boardman would sacrifice both runners into scoring position with one out, but Kyle Panganiban went down on strikes and Jarren Sanderson flied out to end the game.
NOTES OF THE GAME
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"We played differently today. Like every game we've been in, it starts with Diego Gutierrez giving us a strong start. We played more free overall and made more adjustments that we've been working toward. That's a step in the right direction. That's one of the best teams in the country and we learned more about ourselves today and over this series."
UP NEXT
CSUN turns its attention to Big West play next weekend with the Matadors visiting defending Big West champions UC Santa Barbara. The opener is set for Friday, March 7 at 4:05 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a pitcher's duel on Sunday with Gutierrez and Oklahoma's Cameron Johnson trading zeroes on the scoreboard.
CSUN was turned away in the top of the first despite loading the bases with two outs. Johnson would go on to retire seven in a row to keep CSUN scoreless through the first three innings.
The Matadors though broke through in the top of the fourth inning. A one-out walk from Matthew Pena began the rally before Tyler Mejia doubled and Becker pushed across the run with a squeeze play. CSUN eventually loaded the bases with one out but settled for the one run as Johnson retired Fairchild and Roberto Gonzalez to get out of the jam.
On the flip side, Gutierrez frustrated the Sooner bats throughout most of his outing on the mound. Gutierrez retired the first five batters of the game before working his way out of trouble in the second, stranding two base runners. Oklahoma had a leadoff single in the third, but Gutierrez picked off the base runner then sat down the next two batters. He would go on to retire six of seven batters to take a 1-0 lead to the sixth.
CSUN would double its lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. With a runner at first base, Xavier Rios reached on a bunt single. The next batter, Fairchild, singled through the left side to bring home Rios for a 2-0 lead. However, CSUN would settle for just the one run when Gonzalez flied out.
With a two-run lead, Gutierrez began the sixth with an out but yielded back-to-back singles. A sacrifice fly from Sam Christiansen cut the CSUN lead to 2-1 before a walk spelled the end of Gutierrez's time on the mound. Calix Armijo entered out of the bullpen and struck out Dayton Tockey to keep CSUN ahead.
Held at bay for most of the day, Oklahoma broke through in the seventh to take the lead. The first three batters reached to start the inning with Dawson Willis tying the game on an RBI double. Gabriel Hernandez relieved Armijo looking to stop the rally, and proceeded to get Trey Gambill to bounce into a fielder's choice, but the go-ahead run came around to score. Hernandez would finally retire two of the next three batters to keep CSUN within 3-2.
CSUN looked to rally in its last at bat in the ninth when Fairchild and Gonzalez drew walks to start. Colton Boardman would sacrifice both runners into scoring position with one out, but Kyle Panganiban went down on strikes and Jarren Sanderson flied out to end the game.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN drops to 2-7 overall while Oklahoma stays unbeaten at 11-0.
- Hernandez worked the final two innings, holding the Sooners hitless while striking out two batters.
- The Matadors left 11 base runners on the day.
- Boardman and Gonzalez each extended their respective on-base streaks to nine and eight.
- Becker, Rios and Fairchild each reached base safely twice.
ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"We played differently today. Like every game we've been in, it starts with Diego Gutierrez giving us a strong start. We played more free overall and made more adjustments that we've been working toward. That's a step in the right direction. That's one of the best teams in the country and we learned more about ourselves today and over this series."
UP NEXT
CSUN turns its attention to Big West play next weekend with the Matadors visiting defending Big West champions UC Santa Barbara. The opener is set for Friday, March 7 at 4:05 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bodin, J. (1-0)
L: Armijo, Calix (0-1)
S: Crooks, D. (3)
Batting:
2B: Mejia, Tyler 1
RBI: Becker, Andrew 1 ; Fairchild, Elijah 1
SH: Boardman, Colton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pena, Matthew 1 ; Becker, Andrew 1
SB: Becker, Andrew 1
CS: Sanderson, Jarren 1
HBP: Pena, Matthew 1
Batting:
2B: Willis, D. 1
RBI: Gambill, T. 1 ; Christiansen 1 ; Willis, D. 1
SF: Christiansen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Willits, J. 1 ; Horton, B. 1 ; Willis, D. 1
SB: Gambill, T. 1
PO: Harris, Das. 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
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