CSUN Falls to UCSB on Late Homer

Saturday, May 9

Northridge, Calif.

2:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

24-25, 11-15

UC Santa Barbara

33-15, 18-8

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

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Falls to UCSB on Late Homer

5/9/2026 5:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Baseball took a lead to the eighth inning, but UC Santa Barbara hit a go-ahead homer late and held on for a 5-4 victory on Saturday at Robert J. Hiegert Field. Freshman Vaughn Coleman totaled two hits including a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning. Matthew Pena also homered for the 15th time this season early in the ballgame.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos struck first in the opening inning, plating a single tally on an RBI single from Rowan Kelly. The lead though was short-lived as the Matadors responded in the home half of the inning. Kyle Panganiban collected a one-out hit to start while Matthew Thomas drew a walk, bringing Pena to the plate. The Matador first baseman jumped on the first pitch he saw, belting a three-run homer to left field to put CSUN ahead 3-1.

CSUN picked up a spirited effort from senior Adam Christopher out of the bullpen, as the right hander entered the game in the second inning and proceeded to shut down the Gauchos over three straight frames. Christopher faced one over the minimum over that span, picking up a pair of strikeouts along the way.

UC Santa Barbara though would end Christopher's shutout string in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a pair of walks to eventually plate a run on a sacrifice fly from Corey Nunez. An inning later, UCSB tied up the ball game on a one-out RBI single from Nick Husovsky. CSUN turned to the bullpen after the tying hit as James Voorhies proceeded to induce a 5-4-3 double play to end the fifth inning.

Held off the scoreboard since the first inning, the Matadors broke the 3-3 tie in the bottom of the seventh on one swing of the bat. Coleman would turn on a 2-2 pitch with a solo homer to left field, putting the Matadors ahead 4-3.

However, the Gauchos countered with a home run of their own in the top of the eighth. Following a leadoff single from Kelly, Husovsky hammered a two-run homer to left field to put the Gauchos ahead at 5-4.

CSUN would threaten in each of the last two innings, but double plays from the Gauchos squashed each scoring chance. In the bottom of the ninth, CSUN had runners at the corners with one out, but Thomas grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN drops to 24-25 overall and 11-15 in Big West play while UC Santa Barbara improves to 33-15 overall and 18-8 in conference.
The Matadors outhit the Gauchos 11-7.
Coleman homered for the 10th time this season on Saturday. His 10 homers are the second-most by a Matador freshman in the program's Division I history.
Panganiban, Pena, Will Linberg and Jehee Lee each finished with two hits for the Matadors.
Pena has now reached base safely in 14 straight games.
Christopher worked 4.1 innings in relief, allowing two runs on one hit while striking out two batters.
Voorhies fanned four batters in 3.2 innings and allowed two runs.

UP NEXT
CSUN concludes its home schedule on Senior Day Sunday afternoon against UC Santa Barbara. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. on ESPN+ with Ghizal Hasan on the cal.

#GoMatadors