CSUN Smacks Four Homers in Season-Opening Win Over Seattle U

Friday, February 13

Northridge, Calif.

5:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

1-0

Seattle U

0-1

Seattle U

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Smacks Four Homers in Season-Opening Win Over Seattle U

2/13/2026 9:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball scored seven runs in the top of the first and received solid defensive work in a 10-5 season-opening victory over Seattle U on Friday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. Kyle Panganiban belted two home runs and drove in five while Xavier Rios and Matthew Thomas each homered as well. Matador pitching combined for 12 strikeouts with starter Adam Christopher leading the way with five in four innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED
On a night where CSUN honored Hall of Famer Bob Hiegert and celebrated Alumni Homecoming, the Matadors gave the hometown crowd a lot to cheer about early. Seattle U would jump ahead with a two-run top of the first against Christopher, but CSUN had a quick response in the home half. The first five Matadors would reach base to start the inning with two homering. Panganiban put CSUN on the scoreboard first with a three-run shot to center while Thomas followed with a homer on the very next pitch. Later in the inning, newcomer Evan Saito hit a two-out RBI single before Rios smacked a two-run homer to left for a 7-2 CSUN lead.

Christoper shook off a shaky top of the first to retire six of seven batters over the next two frames. He would also get help from his defense as Thomas made a stellar sliding catch in the left field foul territory in the third while Saito made a strong play himself on a sharp grounder up the middle to end that frame. Christopher would tight rope out of danger in the top of the fourth, stranding two runners via back-to-back strikeouts and inducing an inning-ending groundout.

Panganiban added to the lead with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fourth. However, Seattle U battled back in the game in the fifth against the CSUN bullpen. Josh Cunnigan came away with a three-run double with two outs, bringing the Redhawks to within 9-5 before reliever Zach Johnson fanned Hayden Carlson to end the threat.

Johnson settled down after the fifth to throw back-to-back shutout frames while Jaiden Turner shut the door by retiring six of the seven batters over the eighth and ninth innings.

In the eighth, Panganiban added to his RBI total with a two-out double to left field to bring home Will Linberg. On the defensive side, Panganiban also made a highlight catch in the sixth inning, running down a foul ball in left before crashing against the wall.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Panganiban finished with three hits and three runs scored to go with his two homers and five RBI.
Linberg reached base four times on the night, drawing three walks and scoring two runs.
Johnson was credited with the win as he tossed three innings and allowed three runs to go with three strikeouts.
Christopher tossed four innings with two runs on four hits allowed. He struck out five on the night.
Turner had four strikeouts in his two shutout innings.
CSUN honored former head coach and Athletic Director Bob Hiegert prior to first pitch as members of his family gathered at home plate in a special ceremony.

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"The offense really ignited us after a little bit of a sloppy start by Adam, which is really uncharacteristic of him. It could have been a little opening day jitters; he was a little all over the place. He normally does a good job of commanding all of his stuff. But the offense ignited us, and the defense did as well. We had a huge backpick in the seventh inning, Kyle took a hit away in foul territory, Matthew makes a really good play and Evan makes a diving play up the middle to take a base hit away. All four of those situations swung the momentum back in our favor."

UP NEXT
CSUN continues its weekend series with Seattle U on Saturday at 4 p.m. Cooper Hopkins will call the action in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

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