CSUN Visits Future Big West Foe CBU on Tuesday

Tuesday, February 24

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

California Baptist

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Visits Future Big West Foe CBU on Tuesday

2/23/2026 3:34:00 PM | Baseball

BASE Game Notes - Feb. 23

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball (4-3) concludes a four-game road stretch when the Matadors visit future Big West adversary California Baptist on Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

FOR STARTERS
CSUN took to the road for the first time this season over the weekend with the Matadors dropping two of three games at Saint Mary's. Tuesday represents the Matadors' first non-conference midweek game of the season as they will play just two more midweeks on the road in 2026 against the likes of Fresno State on March 17 and Pepperdne on March 31. In contrast, CSUN hosts eight total midweek games this year.

After Tuesday's meeting with CBU, CSUN opens a four-game homestand beginning Friday with the first of three matchups versus Western Michigan at Robert J. Hiegert Field. The Matadors will also host Michigan during the homestand as well on Tuesday, March 3.

ABOUT LAST WEEKEND
The Matadors dropped their first series of the season at Saint Mary's. In the opener, the Gaels blanked CSUN 8-0, breaking open a two-run game with three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. CSUN evened the series last Saturday, rallying from five runs down early to score four in the eighth and two in the ninth for the 12-7 win. The Gaels though run-ruled the Matadors in game three with a 12-0 win in seven innings, pounding four homers and holding CSUN to just three hits.

Kyle Panganiban powered the Matadors' comeback against Saint Mary's on Saturday, hitting a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the eighth. He would finish with five RBi in the game and two hits. CSUN collected four homers in the game as Cameron Calvillo, Matthew Pena and Matthew Thomas also went yard. On the pitching side, freshman James Voorhies continued his dominant start to his collegiate career, tossing 4.2 innings out of the bullpen with six strikeouts and one run allowed in picking up the win.

ON THE MOUND
CSUN turns to graduate right hander Lucas Alaniz on Tuesday against CBU. Alaniz made his Matador debut last Tuesday, Feb. 18 against Portland where he tossed four shutout frames out of the bullpen. The hurler also allowed just one walk and no hits while striking out six batters. Alaniz is in his first season with CSUN after spending the past two seasons as a member of Cal.

MATADOR QUICK HITS
Kyle Panganiban leads CSUN in hitting at a .391 average to rank fifth-best in the Big West. He also is the conference leader with 12 RBi to go with three homers ... Entering Tuesday, Panganiban has reached safely in all seven games this season and holds a five-hit streak ... Sophomore catcher Jehee Lee has also reached safely in five straight ... Matthew Pena leads CSUN and the Big West with his four homers this year. Pena also has reached double digits in RBI with 10 ... Freshman James Voorhies has emerged as the CSUN strikeout leader through two weeks of the season, posting 13 total over 7.2 innings. Opposing hitters have managed just a .160 average against the right hander while Voorhies has sported a 1.17 ERA ... Already 14 Matadors have made their program debut this season. Ryan Ellis was the latest to join that group after he tossed an inning out of the bullen at Saint Mary's on Sunday.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers (7-1) have won seven straight games after dropping their season opener to Cal State Fullerton. Last weekend, CBU swept a four-game home series with Seattle U, holding the Redhawks to two combined runs over the final three games. A season ago, the Lancers went 30-27 overall and 12-12 in the WAC. The team was picked to finish third in the WAC by the league's head coaches in 2026. CBU is in his final season in the WAC and is set to join the Big West in 2026-27.

Thus far this season, the Lancer pitching staff has boasted a 1.87 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 77.0 innings. On the hitting side, CBU is batting .281 as a group with Ben Castelli leading the way at a .433 clip. Bryce McFeely tops the team with eight RBI to go with a .343 batting average while Matt Chavez has two homers with a .400 average at the plate.

Series History: CSUN leads CBU 9-3 in the all-time series, but the Lancers have won the past two meetings. CBU swept the season series in 2024, taking a 3-2 meeting at home and a 12-4 decision in Northridge. CSUN's most recent win at California Baptist took place in 2019 by a 7-4 score.

#GoMatadors