CSUN Clinches Series with 5-3 Win Over UC Davis

Sunday, April 19

Northridge, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

22-16, 11-10

UC Davis

17-20, 8-13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Davis	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	6	1
CSUN	0	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	X	5	7	1

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Clinches Series with 5-3 Win Over UC Davis

4/19/2026 4:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball picked up a crucial series victory, holding off UC Davis for a 5-3 win on Sunday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. The Matadors used six pitchers in the finale of the series as CSUN relievers blanked the Aggies over the final four frames.

On the hitting side, Matthew Pena finished 2-for-4 with two RBI while Andrew Becker added two hits and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the second straight day, the Matadors turned to freshman Charles Rogers to start on the mound in the all important rubber game of the series. Rogers would make quick work of the Aggies, needing just six pitches to end the first inning. Lucas Alaniz took over on the mound in the second inning, keeping the momentum on the Matadors' side as he retired the side 1-2-3.

The CSUN bats came alive in the bottom of the second as CSUN sent nine batters to the plate. A Mateo Rickman walk began the frame before doubles from Kyle Panganiban and Pena put CSUN on top 2-0. Jehee Lee followed with a well-placed bunt single then Colton Boardman followed with a grounder to the right side. On a play at the plate, Pena made it home just in time on the Boardman grounder to extend to a 3-0 Matador lead.

The Aggies would battle back with a single tally in the third, capitalizing on a dropped third strike to start the inning before Joey Wright hit a sacrifice fly later in the frame. An inning later, Keenan Anzi delivered a two-out RBI single off Alaniz to pull the Aggies to within 3-2. Adam Christopher came out of the bullpen next to retire Jack Castagnola, stranding a runner.

In the home half of the fourth, CSUN responded with a big two-run inning. Following a hit from Trent Abel and a Vaughn Coleman hit by pitch, Andrew Becker knocked in a run with a single through the left side. CSUN eventually extended to a 5-2 lead after a Matthew Thomas sacrifice fly.

UC Davis pulled a run closer in the fifth on a leadoff homer from Ryan Lee and threatened for more after a pair of one-out singles. The Matadors would pick up a big out when Christopher caught Braydon Wooldridge stealing on the base paths for the second out. An error kept the inning alive, but Kody King entered out of the bullpen to strike out Kai Mault.

The backend of the CSUN bullpen carried the Matadors the rest of the way. King faced the minimum in the sixth inning while Logan Miller retired the side in order in the seventh with three groundouts. The Matadors would turn the ball over to closer James Voorhies in the top of the eighth where the freshman hurler proceeded to sit down all six batters he faced, four of which on strikeouts to nail down the save.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 22-16 overall and 11-10 in Big West play while UC Davis slips to 17-20 overall and 8-13 in conference.
The Matadors outhit the Aggies 7-6 in the contest.
Becker extended his hit streak to 17 games while he posted his 14th multiple-hit game.
Pena notched his 10th multiple-RBI game.
Voorhies' save was his fourth of the season.
Rogers has now started four of the past six games. He has tossed nine straight shutout frames over his last five outings.
The Matadors have won five straight home series versus the Aggies.

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"You're always worried about a Sunday game after a bounce back win when you score a lot of runs. I knew this was going to be somewhat of a low scoring game. The wind was blowing in. I'm really pleased with how we pitched after Friday. We were able to pass the baton in both games and guys accepted their roles and performed really well. Offensively, we were able to execute with early offense, but as the game went on, I thought our at bats started to fade. That's something we're going to have to work on down the stretch, so we can play good baseball."

POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM JAMES VOORHIES
"I knew I had to attack the zone down and I thought I did pretty well with that. I was trying to let external factors go."

On being the Matador closer
"Closing is fantastic. It's super fun. I think you have a different mindset than when you're a starter. I love it, and if I could find success with it, I think it's a good thing."

On bouncing back from his previous outing at UC Riverside
"You have to flush bad outings quickly, so I was able to do that and get back on to the grind this week. I had a pretty good week of practice. It was just about flushing that [previous] outing and knowing I can have success out there allowed me to do that today."

UP NEXT
CSUN concludes a five-game homestand on Tuesday against San Diego State at 6 p.m. Ghizal Hasan has the call in an audio broadcast at GoMatadors.com/Radio.

#GoMatadors