CSUN Falls on Walk-Off Homer at Pepperdine

Tuesday, March 31

Malibu, Calif.

3:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

15-12

Pepperdine

9-19

CSUN

Pepperdine

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls on Walk-Off Homer at Pepperdine

3/31/2026 6:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif.---CSUN came away with a game-tying two-out hit in the ninth from freshman Mateo Rickman, but Pepperdine walked off in the bottom half for a 6-5 victory on Tuesday at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

Rickman finished with two hits and two RBI while Matthew Thomas went 3-for-5 with an RBI. One of six pitchers used on the day, freshman Gage McCown tossed 2.1 shutout frames to go with two strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors generated four hits in the top of the first inning but settled for just one run. Following back-to-back singles from Thomas and Will Linberg to start, Colton Boardman hammered a double into deep right center field. However, Thomas would wind up being thrown out at the plate on the play. Rickman followed with an RBI single to put the Matadors ahead 1-0. Pepperdine though limited the damage as Pierson Hower retired the next two batters in order.

In contrast to the top of the first, the Waves made use of one hit to plate two runs. With runners at the corners, Matador starter Jack Jones committed a balk, leading to the tying run scoring. A passed ball later in the frame allowed an unearned run to come across, giving Pepperdine a 2-1 edge.

CSUN had a second base runner thrown out at home plate in as many innings in the top of the second when Andrew Becker attempted to score from third on a bunt from Trent Abel. However, a heads up play from pitcher Arnold Wu got Becker at the plate.

Pepperdine would add to its lead in the third inning behind a three-run homer from Joshua Woodward to extend to a 5-1 advantage.

The Matador bullpen though slowed the momentum beginning in the fourth. Pepperdine had two runners in scoring position in the fourth, but McCown retired Julian Nunez on a foul out to end the threat. McCown went on to sit down the Waves in order in the fifth and get the first out of the sixth. Cody Carson would toss 1.2 shutout innings over the sixth and seventh, scattering a pair of hits while Zach Johnson worked a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Meanwhile, CSUN chipped away at the lead with a three-run fifth inning. An error to start the inning allowed Thomas to knock in Abel from third base with an RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt, Boardman drove in Thomas with another RBI single to right. CSUN eventually loaded the bases with one out before pulling closer at 5-4 on a Cameron Calvillo groundout.

The Matadors entered the ninth still trailing 5-4 when they forged one last rally. Thomas nearly tied the game with a high drive to right field that was caught just in front of the wall. With two outs and nobody on, Linberg kept the inning alive with a single, and Boardman followed with a walk to bring Rickman to the plate. Battling to a 2-2 count, Rickman roped a single through the right side, driving in Linberg with the tying run.

Pepperdine though came away with the biggest hit of the day in the bottom of the ninth. On a 3-1 pitch, Daniel Patterson hammered a walk-off homer to left field for a 6-5 Waves victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 15-12 overall while Pepperdine improves to 9-19.
The Matadors outhit the Waves 11-9. CSUN left 11 base runners in the contest while Pepperdine left nine.
Linberg went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk while Boardman finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Matthew Pena extended his hit streak to 12 games and his on-base streak to 13 games.
Boardman has now reached safely in 13 straight.
Calix Armijo made his season debut on the mound, tossing a shutout bottom of the second.

UP NEXT
CSUN opens a three-game Big West series against Long Beach State at Robert J. Hiegert Field this Thursday. Ghizal Hasan will call the action on ESPN+ at 5 p.m.

#GoMatadors