California State University Northridge Athletics
Tuesday, April 14
Northridge, Calif.
5:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
20-15
12
vs
7
LMU
10-28
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LMU | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 2 |
| CSUN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | X | 12 | 10 | 0 |
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Surges Ahead Late to Beat LMU 12-7
4/14/2026 8:39:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball scored seven runs over its last two at bats, including six in the seventh inning to rally past LMU for a 12-7 victory on Tuesday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. The quartet of Matthew Thomas, Mateo Rickman, Colton Boardman and Will Linberg each drove in two runs while CSUN hitters belted three home runs on the night.Â
Eleven Matador pitchers saw action in the contest with Kody King picking up the victory after working 1.1 shutout innings and striking out two.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Each side traded runs in the early innings as CSUN took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer from Matthew Thomas while LMU squared the game in the second via an RBI single from Andrew Mhoon. In the third, the Lions' Travis Friend belted a solo home run, only to have Will Linberg answer in the home half with a homer of his own.Â
The Matadors though fell behind again in the fourth inning when LMU picked up another homer from Friend, this time a grand slam with two outs.Â
After giving up runs in three straight innings, CSUN turned to Traig Oughton to stop the Lions' momentum in the fifth. The right hander pitched around a one-out single in the inning to put up a zero. Meanwhile, CSUN inched closer with a fourth-inning solo homer from Rickman along with a two-run bottom of the fifth, highlighted by an RBI double from Vaughn Coleman, to pull to within 6-5.Â
The Lions got a run back in the top of the sixth with a two-out hit from Jaxson Wall. LMU threatened for more by loading the bases in the frame, but King ended the rally by retiring Richie Klosek on a grounder. King would keep the Lions' lead at two with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, striking out two batters.Â
CSUN would trail 7-5 heading to the seventh but threatened with runners at the corners and one out. The Matadors picked up a break when Thomas hit into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but an errant throw on the relay to first kept the inning alive. CSUN soon took advantage as Rickman drew a walk, and Boardman followed with a two-run triple to give the Matadors an 8-7 lead.
LMU pitching then proceeded to walk the next four Matador batters, forcing in two runs while CSUN added one more on a wild pitch to suddenly take an 11-7 lead. An inning later, two more Lion walks along with a wild pitch led to Rickman driving in another run for a five-run advantage at 12-7.Â
Despite struggles in the earlier innings, Matador pitching, consisting of King, Logan Miller, Jack Jones and Jaiden Turner, combined to toss three straight shutout innings with just a hit allowed.Â
NOTES OF THE GAME
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home to open a three-game series with UC Davis, starting Friday at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
Eleven Matador pitchers saw action in the contest with Kody King picking up the victory after working 1.1 shutout innings and striking out two.Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
Each side traded runs in the early innings as CSUN took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer from Matthew Thomas while LMU squared the game in the second via an RBI single from Andrew Mhoon. In the third, the Lions' Travis Friend belted a solo home run, only to have Will Linberg answer in the home half with a homer of his own.Â
The Matadors though fell behind again in the fourth inning when LMU picked up another homer from Friend, this time a grand slam with two outs.Â
After giving up runs in three straight innings, CSUN turned to Traig Oughton to stop the Lions' momentum in the fifth. The right hander pitched around a one-out single in the inning to put up a zero. Meanwhile, CSUN inched closer with a fourth-inning solo homer from Rickman along with a two-run bottom of the fifth, highlighted by an RBI double from Vaughn Coleman, to pull to within 6-5.Â
The Lions got a run back in the top of the sixth with a two-out hit from Jaxson Wall. LMU threatened for more by loading the bases in the frame, but King ended the rally by retiring Richie Klosek on a grounder. King would keep the Lions' lead at two with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, striking out two batters.Â
CSUN would trail 7-5 heading to the seventh but threatened with runners at the corners and one out. The Matadors picked up a break when Thomas hit into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but an errant throw on the relay to first kept the inning alive. CSUN soon took advantage as Rickman drew a walk, and Boardman followed with a two-run triple to give the Matadors an 8-7 lead.
LMU pitching then proceeded to walk the next four Matador batters, forcing in two runs while CSUN added one more on a wild pitch to suddenly take an 11-7 lead. An inning later, two more Lion walks along with a wild pitch led to Rickman driving in another run for a five-run advantage at 12-7.Â
Despite struggles in the earlier innings, Matador pitching, consisting of King, Logan Miller, Jack Jones and Jaiden Turner, combined to toss three straight shutout innings with just a hit allowed.Â
NOTES OF THE GAME
- CSUN improves to 20-15 overall while LMU drops to 10-28.Â
- The Matador trio of Coleman, Rickman and Linberg had two hits each.Â
- Thomas' home run was his 13th of the season, tying Matthew Pena for the team lead.Â
- Andrew Becker extended his hit streak to 14 games.Â
- Boardman has reached safely in 20 straight games while Thomas has reached in 17 consecutive.Â
- King improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory.Â
- Charles Rogers made the start on Tuesday, tossing a shutout top of the first while retiring all three batters he faced.Â
- Also seeing action on the mound for CSUN included Zach Johnson, Cody Carson, Jackson Banuelos, Ryan Ellis and Calix Armijo.Â
UP NEXT
CSUN stays at home to open a three-game series with UC Davis, starting Friday at 5 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call on ESPN+.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: King, Kody (3-1)
L: Alec Johnson (0-6)
Batting:
2B: DJ Ghiorso 1 ; Richie Klosek 1
HR: Travis Friend 2
RBI: Jaxson Wall 1 ; Andrew Mhoon 1 ; Travis Friend 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Richie Klosek 2 ; JD Dunn 1 ; Jordan Ortiz 2 ; Travis Friend 2
SB: Jaxson Wall 1
HBP: Cooper Whitton 1
Batting:
2B: Coleman, Vaughn 1
3B: Boardman, Colton 1
HR: Thomas, Matthew 1 ; Rickman, Mateo 1 ; Linberg, Will 1
RBI: Coleman, Vaughn 1 ; Becker, Andrew 1 ; Thomas, Matthew 2 ; Rickman, Mateo 2 ; Boardman, Colton 2 ; Cormier, Matthew 1 ; Linberg, Will 2
SF: Becker, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coleman, Vaughn 2 ; Becker, Andrew 1 ; Thomas, Matthew 2 ; Rickman, Mateo 2 ; Boardman, Colton 1 ; Abel, Trent 1 ; Calvillo, Cameron 1 ; Linberg, Will 2
SB: Becker, Andrew 1
HBP: Coleman, Vaughn 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
UTIL
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ Baseball1B
/ Baseball
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball2026 CSUN Athletics Giving Day
Friday, February 13
2026 CSUN Men's Volleyball Hype Video
Saturday, January 24
2025 CSUN Women's Volleyball Hype Video
Thursday, December 11
2025-26 CSUN Men's Basketball Hype Video
Thursday, December 11