CSUN Can't Hold On to Late Lead in 9-8 Loss at UC Riverside

Saturday, April 11

Riverside, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

19-15, 9-9

UC Riverside

10-24, 5-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	1	1	2	0	0	1	1	0	2	8	14	3
UC Riverside	1	0	1	0	4	0	0	1	2	9	11	1

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Can't Hold On to Late Lead in 9-8 Loss at UC Riverside

4/11/2026 4:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball scored two in the ninth to take a one-run lead, but UC Riverside answered with two in the home half to walk away with a 9-8 win and a series victory on Saturday at Riverside Sports Complex.

Matthew Thomas went 3-for-5 and a homer while Vaughn Coleman finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored as well as a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth. On the mound, James Voorhies worked 3.1 innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts and two runs allowed.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN pushed across the game's first run on a Mateo Rickman fielder's choice that scored Thomas, who doubled to begin the game. UCR though battled back to tie the game up in the home half, loading the bases with nobody out against CSUN starter Traig Oughton before Jarren Sanderson hit a sacrifice fly.

The Matadors grabbed the lead back in the second following an RBI groundout off the bat of Trent Abel to score Coleman. An inning later, the Matadors went back on the attack as Thomas hit a solo homer before back-to-back doubles from Andrew Becker and Rickman to go ahead 4-1.

However, as they had done all series, the Highlanders battled back. Andrew Rivas brought the home team closer with an RBI single in the third before UC Riverside put up a four-spot in the fifth inning, highlighted by a pair of two-run doubles from Isaiah Hernandez and David Whittle.

Trailing 6-4 in the sixth, the Matadors trimmed the lead in half. Coleman led off the inning with a double and Colton Boardman followed with a single to put runners at the corners for Abel who hit a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, the Matadors took advantage a Highlander error to square the game. After Thomas doubled to start the inning, Becker reached on an error to the right side of the infield, allowing Thomas to score. CSUN though squandered an opportunity at more runs, leaving the bases loaded after walks to Coleman and Boardman.

Voorhies gave CSUN a huge lift out of the bullpen, retiring eight consecutive batters to help keep the game tied in the eighth. However, a two-out walk to Tyler Gordan in the eighth, extended the frame. Soon after, Gordan stole second base, but an errant throw followed by a fielding error in the outfield, allowed the go-ahead run to score.

CSUN forged another rally in the top of the ninth, picking up a leadoff single from Becker and a double from Rickman. Matthew Pena followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game up. Needing a big hit, Coleman stepped up with a clutch RBI single to center to give the Matadors an 8-7 lead.

The Highlanders though put together the final deciding rally in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and a runner in scoring position, Voorhies walked back-to-back batters then hit Manoah Chapman to force in the tying run. From there, Hernandez rifled a walk-off RBI single to right to lift UCR to victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 19-15 overall and 9-9 in Big West play while UC Riverside improves to 10-24 overall and 5-10 in conference.
The Matadors outhit the Highlanders 14-11 but committed three errors compared to just one for UCR.
Becker also posted three hits with a double and two runs scored. He also has hit safely in 13 straight.
Abel and Rickman each drove in two runs in the game.
Boardman extended his on base streak to 19 games.
Thomas posted his 14th multi-hit game of the season while he extended his on base streak to 16.

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home for a five-game homestand, beginning on Tuesday, April 14 against LMU at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call on ESPN+.

#GoMatadors