CSUN Falls at Saint Mary's to Begin Weekend Series

Friday, February 20

Moraga, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

3-2

Saint Mary's

2-2

CSUN

Saint Mary's

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls at Saint Mary's to Begin Weekend Series

2/20/2026 5:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif.---CSUN Baseball suffered an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Saint Mary's in the opener of a three-game series on Friday at Louis Guisto Field at Br. Ronald Gallagher Stadium. Will Linberg had three of the Matadors' seven hits while Kyle Panganiban reached base three times. The Gaels broke open a 2-0 game with a three-run sixth and a three-run seventh inning against the Matador bullpen.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors had opportunities to cash in on early runs but could not break through against the Gaels' starter John Damozonio. CSUN had back-to-back one out singles from Linberg and Panganiban, but Damozonio got out of trouble by inducing a 4-6-3 double play.

In the third, CSUN loaded the bases with one out before Damozonio bounced back by retiring Thomas and Matthew Pena for another shutout frame. CSUN would have at least one runner on base in each of the first four innings, but the score remained 0-0 until the bottom of the fourth.

Earning the Friday start, Adam Christopher allowed just two base runners and no hits through the first three frames. However, Saint Mary's struck first on a solo homer from Jacob Johnson.

The Gaels went on to plate a single tally in the fifth on an RBI single from Micah Nicholson. Saint Mary's would threaten further in the fifth with runners on the corners and two outs, and proceeded to attempt to manufacture a run on a steal of home. However, a heads up throw by Pena at first base to home plate allowed catcher Xavier Rios to tag out Nicholson.

CSUN only trailed by a 2-0 margin heading to the sixth before the Saint Mary's bats came alive. Johnson opened the frame with another solo homer while three of the next four batters had singles. Saint Mary's eventually plated three runs on a five-hit inning to stretch its lead to 5-0.

The Gaels though were far from done. In the sixth, three more runs came across with the big blow coming off the bat of Nick Allred, who blasted a two-run homer to left for an 8-0 lead.

The Matador offense was limited to just a pair of hits after the fourth inning as the Gael bullpen the shut the door on the victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN dropped to 3-2 on the season while Saint Mary's improved to 2-2.
Christopher tossed 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
Evan Saito had CSUN's lone extra base hit, a double to leadoff the fourth.
Both Panganiban and Vaughn Coleman have reached base safely in all five games this season.
For Saint Mary's Damozonio tossed six shutout frames with five hits allowed.