California State University at Northridge
8-28, 4-15
Long Beach State
16-22, 10-12
CSUN Falls at Long Beach State in Series Opener
4/25/2025 9:59:00 PM | Baseball
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors opened up the scoring in the top of the second when a pair of one-out hits produced a 2-0 lead. Kyle Panganiban would collect a double down the left-field line in the frame before Calvillo blasted a two-run homer to left.
Â
The lead though was short-lived as the Dirtbags countered with a pair of homers in the home half of the second. CSUN's lead was cut in half quickly on a leadoff solo homer from Nathan Cadena. Later in the frame, a two-out walk brought Conner Stewart to the plate. The Dirtbags' backstop would stroke a two-run homer to go ahead 3-2.
Â
In the third, CSUN had a quick response and reclaimed the lead on a series of singles. After Roberto Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and Trent Abel picked up a single, Andrew Gauna delivered an RBI single up the middle to even the game. On the next pitch, Jarren Sanderson singled home Abel, giving the Matadors the lead once more. A Calvillo single with two outs then gave CSUN a 5-3 lead, capping a three-run frame.
Â
Right-handed pitcher Diego Gutierrez worked his way through a scoreless third for CSUN, but the Dirtbags struck again with another big fly in the fourth. Two singles set the table for Jake Evans, who unloaded on a three-run homer to left for a 6-5 Long Beach State advantage.
The middle innings would prove to be the Matadors' undoing on the night. In the fifth, Long Beach State added to its lead with a two-out RBI double from Connor Charpiot. An inning later though, the Dirtbags broke the game open with a six-run outburst. Alex Champagne's double in the inning began a stretch where five straight batters reached base. Matt Toomey would hit a two-run triple in the sixth while Nathan Cadena later singled in two more runs and Chariot capped off the scoring with a two-run double.
CSUN trailed 13-5 before getting back into the scoring column in the top of the eighth. After the first two batters were retired in the inning, Will Linberg singled to center and scored on a Matthew Pena double. Roberto Gonzalez would bring the Matadors to within 13-7 on a two-out RBI single.
Long Beach State though did not allow CSUN to get any closer the rest of the way as Josh Donegan wrapped up the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN slips to 8-28 overall and 4-15 in Big West play while Long Beach State improves to 16-22 overall and 10-12 in conference.Â
- Calvillo extended his on base streak to 11 games after his two-hit effort on Friday.
- Gauna stretched his hit streak to six games.
- Gutierrez finished with five innings pitched in his first career Friday start while he allowed seven runs and struck out six.
- Out of the bullpen, Jason Davis worked 1.2 shutout innings and struck out two and Noah Rinehart fanned two batters in a shutout eighth.
CSUN looks to even its weekend series with Long Beach State on Saturday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Montgomery, Kellan (8-3)
L: Gutierrez, Diego (2-5)
Batting:
2B: Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Pena, Matthew 1
HR: Calvillo, Cameron 1
RBI: Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Sanderson, Jarren 1 ; Calvillo, Cameron 3 ; Pena, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gonzalez, Roberto 1 ; Abel, Trent 1 ; Gauna, Andrew 1 ; Panganiban, Kyle 1 ; Calvillo, Cameron 1 ; Linberg, Will 1 ; Pena, Matthew 1
HBP: Gonzalez, Roberto 1
Batting:
2B: Champagne, Alex 1 ; Cadena, Nathan 1 ; Charpiot, Connor 2
3B: Toomey, Matt 1
HR: Cadena, Nathan 1 ; Stewart, Conner 1 ; Evans, Jake 1
RBI: Toomey, Matt 2 ; Cadena, Nathan 3 ; Charpiot, Connor 3 ; Stewart, Conner 2 ; Evans, Jake 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Champagne, Alex 1 ; Toomey, Matt 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 1 ; Cadena, Nathan 3 ; Elliot, Easton 1 ; Charpiot, Connor 1 ; Taylor, Luke 1 ; Stewart, Conner 3 ; Evans, Jake 1
HBP: Toomey, Matt 1 ; Ashworth, Kyle 1
PO: Elliot, Easton 1
