Seven-Run Sixth Powers CSUN Past UC Riverside in Series Opener

Thursday, April 9

Riverside, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

19-13, 9-7

UC Riverside

8-24, 3-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
CSUN	1	0	0	0	0	7	0	1	0	9	13	1
UC Riverside	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	6	12	2

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

Seven-Run Sixth Powers CSUN Past UC Riverside in Series Opener

4/9/2026 6:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball broke out for seven runs in the sixth inning to rally past UC Riverside 9-6 on Thursday afternoon at Riverside Sports Complex.

Five Matadors finished with multi-hit games while Andrew Becker, Trent Abel and Vaughn Coleman each drove in two runs. Gabriel Hernandez picked up the win, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing three runs with four strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Matadors would take an early 1-0 lead in the first, taking advantage of a leadoff double from Matthew Thomas along with a bunt hit from Colton Boardman. Becker drove in the game's first run via a sacrifice fly, but UCR starter Joshua Torres limited the damage by retiring two of the next three batters.

Hernandez tossed a shutout first inning before surrendering a solo home run to Robert Pitts in the second and a single tally in the third on a wild pitch.

The Highlanders looked to break the game open in the fourth inning when a pair of singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases with two outs. However, Hernandez retired David Whittle for the third out of the inning on a foul out to keep the Matadors within 2-1.

Held to just one hit since the first inning, the Matador bats finally broke through in the sixth inning. In perhaps the momentum switch of the inning, Xavier Rios struck out with a runner at second base. Catcher David Whittle dropped the third strike and threw down to first base, but the ball was mishandled. As a result, CSUN had runners at the corners with one out for Cameron Calvillo who delivered an RBI single to tie the game up.

The floodgates would open soon after as Thomas picked up an RBI single then Boardman and Becker collected singles to produce another run. Moments later, Matthew Pena hit a bouncer to first leading to a sure-fire force out at home, but Whittle missed the bag at home plate. Thomas scored on the play, leading to Coleman stroking a two-run double in the left-field corner. Abel, the 10th man to bat in the inning, hit a sacrifice fly to put CSUN ahead 8-2.

The Highlanders got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI single from Jarren Sanderson, as Hernandez exited the game soon after. Out of the bullpen, Logan Miller needed just one pitch to retire Jaxon Byrd, stranding two runners on base.

After Abel stroked an RBI single in the eighth inning, putting the Matadors on top 9-3, UCR rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Sanderson clubbed a three-run homer to center field with two outs, making it a 9-6 game. However, Jaiden Turner entered out of the bullpen and sat down Byrd shortly thereafter, securing a CSUN victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN improves to 19-13 overall and 9-7 in Big West play while UC Riverside drops to 8-24 overall and 3-10 in conference.
The Matadors outhit the Highlanders 13-12 in the contest.
The group of Thomas, Boardman, Becker, Abel and Calvillo had two hits each.
Hernandez improved to 4-2 on the mound this season. The right hander scattered eight hits and allowed no walks.
Turner earned his second save of the season.
Boardman has reached safely in 17 straight games.
Becker extended his hit streak to 11 games.

ACCORDING TO COACH EDDIE CORNEJO
"Gabe gave us a quality start, and we capitalized on some of their mistakes. I thought we played defense well enough but if we want to get to where we want to be, we need to make adjustments at the plate quicker, force their hand more and close out innings later in the game."

UP NEXT
CSUN and UC Riverside continue their three-game series on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+. Due anticipated rain in the forecast, the series finale has been moved to Saturday with a start time of 1 p.m.

#GoMatadors