CSUN Falls to UCSD in Series Finale

Sunday, March 15

Northridge, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

10-9, 2-4

UC San Diego

7-10, 3-0

UC San Diego

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls to UCSD in Series Finale

3/15/2026 4:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball fell by a 12-4 score to UC San Diego in the teams' series finale on Sunday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. Matthew Thomas homered for the eighth time this season while Matthew Pena, Mateo Rickman and Matthew Cormier each drove in a run. The Tritons scored in seven of the nine innings including multiple times in three different frames.

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third consecutive day, the Tritons scored first and in their first at bat. Matador starter Cade Barry retired two of the first three batters to start the game, but J.C. Allen came through with a two-out RBI double for a 1-0 UCSD lead.

The Matadors had a quick response in the home half of the first, plating two runs without the benefit of a hit. A hit batter, a walk and a second hit batter helped CSUN load the bases with one out. From there, Pena drew a five-pitch walk to force in the tying run. CSUN would grab its first lead of the weekend series moments later when Rickman hit a sacrifice fly.

The lead though was short-lived as the Tritons reclaimed the lead in the third inning on a two-run homer from Alex Leopard. UCSD was far from done, however, with the big inning coming in the fourth. CSUN pitching hit a batter and walked two others to load the bases while Michael Crossland hit a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead. The big blow of the inning came moments later when Gabe Camacho hit a popup on the infield. In what appeared would be the final out of the inning, instead resulted in a dropped ball on the infield. A run scored on the error and Allen followed with a two-run single to stretch his team's lead to 7-2.

The Matadors got a run back in the fifth on a two-out solo homer from Thomas, but the Tritons proceeded to plate single tallies over the next three innings to keep the score out of reach. CSUN picked up its last run of the day on an RBI single from Cormier in the bottom of the eighth.

UCSD pitching, led by starter Austin Bowker, stranded nine Matador base runners on the day. Bowker tossed five innings, allowing just three runs en route to earning the victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 10-9 overall and 2-4 in Big West play while UC San Diego improves to 7-10 overall and 3-0 in conference.
Lucas Alaniz was one of four Matador relievers that saw action in the game. Alaniz tossed four innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
Logan Miller was the only Matador pitcher to not surrender a run on the day as he recorded both of his outs on strikeouts.
Pena and Colton Boardman each had a hit to extend their respective hit streaks to five games.

UP NEXT
The Matadors hit the road next week for a four-game road stretch, beginning with a Tuesday midweek game against Fresno State. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. with coverage on the Mountain West Network.

#GoMatadors