CSUN Rallies Past CBU, 7-5, in Midweek Action

Tuesday, February 24

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

5-3

California Baptist

7-2

Cal State Northridge

California Baptist

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Rallies Past CBU, 7-5, in Midweek Action

2/24/2026 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball pounded out three homers and received five shutout innings from its bullpen in a 7-5 victory over California Baptist on Tuesday at Totman Stadium. Matthew Thomas belted two homers and scored three times while Kyle Panganiban came away with the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh. Zach Johnson led the bullpen with three shutout innings in picking up the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors jumped ahead quickly in the top of the first, picking up a two-out solo homer from Thomas, but the Lancers had a response in the bottom of the second. Three of the first four Lancers reached to start the second inning before CSUN starter Lucas Alaniz walked in the tying run. CBU went ahead on an RBi groundout while the Lancers scored a third run on a wild pitch and a fourth on a two-out RBI single from Bryce McFeely.

CSUN would get a run back in the top of the third on a solo homer from Xavier Rios, but CBU answered that single tally with one of its own in the bottom half as Matt Chavez made it a 5-2 game on a sacrifice fly.

Over the middle innings, CSUN chipped away at the lead with single tallies in the fourth and sixth. Thomas would hammer his second homer of the night in the top of the sixth, a solo shot that pulled CSUN to within 5-4.

HE DOES IT AGAIN!!

Matthew Thomas hits his 2nd homer of the night as CSUN draws closer at 5-4.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/5j6dl2xUcB
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) February 25, 2026

After giving up five runs through four innings, the Matador bullpen cooled the Lancer bats over the final five frames. Johnson gave the Matadors a big lift with three consecutive shutout frames, surrendering only an infield single and a walk, to keep the Matadors within striking distance.

Meanwhile, CSUN broke through against the CBU bullpen in the seventh inning. The tandem of Vaughn Coleman and Trent Abel set the table with back-to-back walks to begin the frame, while Andrew Becker delivered the game-tying single with one out. Moments later, Panganiban roped a single up the middle to drive in Abel with the go-ahead run. The Matadors added an insurance run on an attempted double steal as Becker touched home plate for a 7-5 lead.

KP doing KP things.

Kyle Panganiban drives in his 13th RBI of the season and CSUN is front in the 7th!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/CrdldSgZDi
— CSUN Baseball (@CSUNBaseball) February 25, 2026

Johnson retired the Lancer side in order in the bottom of the seventh while Logan Miller pitched around a leadoff single in the eighth to pass the baton to closer James Voorhies. The Matador freshman slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth, retiring three of four batters for the save.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 5-3 on the season while California Baptist drops to 7-2.
Panganiban has reached safely in all eight games this season while he has a hit in six straight games.
All eight of Thomas' hits this season have been extra base hits.
With his two homers, Thomas tied Matthew Pena for the team lead at four this season.
Voorhies notched his second save of the season.
Alaniz worked four innings with five runs allowed on four hits,

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"We strung together quality at bats throughout the game and stayed positive. Great to see the bullpen shut the door and give us competitive innings."

UP NEXT
The Matadors return to Robert J. Hiegert Field for a three-game series against Western Michigan, beginning Friday at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan will have the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

#GoMatadors