CSUN Drops Series Opener to Western Michigan

Friday, February 27

Northridge, Calif.

5:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

5-4

Western Michigan

3-6

Western Michigan

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Drops Series Opener to Western Michigan

2/27/2026 8:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball suffered an 11-1 setback to Western Michigan in the opener of a three-game series on Friday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. Trent Abel was one of the bright spots offensively for CSUN, producing three hits including a double while Colton Boardman drove in the lone Matador run.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN would fall behind early, spotting Western Michigan three runs in the top of the first. An error began the game while three hits including a two-out RBI double from Mason Pilarski quickly put CSUN into that 3-0 hole.

The Broncos were far from done in the early innings as Western Michigan knocked out starter Adam Christopher in the second inning behind a four-hit top of the second. Lucas Rick dealt a two-out two-run RBI double that extended the lead to 6-0 through two innings.

CSUN's offense would be kept at bay throughout most of the night with starter Ty McKinstry tossing five innings and scattering six hits. McKinstry gave up a pair of singles to begin the bottom of the second before retiring six straight Matador batters.

The Matadors broke up the shutout with a single tally in the bottom of the fourth when Boardman doubled home Matthew Thomas with two outs. CSUN picked up a leadoff single to start the fifth as well, but McKinstry induced a 4-3 double play to cool the Matador rally.

Western Michigan extended its lead with a single run in the fifth while adding a single tally in each of the final three frames. Two of the final four runs would be unearned as the Broncos capitalized on two Matador errors in the late innings.

CSUN threatened in the ninth inning with two runners reaching and two outs, but Matt Hoover shut the door for the Bronco victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 5-4 overall while Western Michigan improves to 3-6.
Charles Rogers relieved Christopher with two outs in the second inning as he went on to toss 3.1 innings with one run allowed.
Kody King worked 2.1 innings in middle relief, surrendering an unearned run to go with three strikeouts.
Jehee Lee, who came in as a pinch hitter, walked to extend his on-base streak to six games.
MJ Seo made his Matador debut on the mound in the ninth inning, striking out two and yielding a run.

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

#GoMatadors