After taking two out of three games from Cal Poly last weekend, the Matadors looked like a confident team ready to climb up the Big West standings. That confidence lasted one game, as the Matadors (21-17, 3-6 Big West) lost two of three games to Pacific (24-14, 7-5 Big West) this weekend in Stockton, Calif.

CSUN opened the series in impressive fashion with an 8-1 victory on Friday, however, Pacific took the final two games of the series.

Friday

The Matadors victory featured a complete game performance by pitcher Ryan Juarez, who struck out five batters, picking up his second win of the season.

The game was a pitchers duel between Juarez and Marcus Pointer up until the fifth inning. With the Matadors up 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, CSUN scored three runs adding to its lead. The first run came from Ryan Pineda’s RBI single.

Four batters later Nate Ring, who went two-for-four on the afternoon, brought in two runs making the score 4-0.

It was more than enough offense for Juarez, who lost his bid for a shut-out in the eighth inning.

The victory was one of the few games this season where both the Matador pitching and offense performed well in the same game.

Saturday

For the second straight game the Matadors had a strong pitching performance, however, the offense was held in check by Tiger pitchers in Pacific’s 4-1 victory. Tiger pitcher David Rowse picked up the victory by pitching seven innings, striking out four batters, and giving up only five hits.

Starter Paul Tremlin went five innings and gave up three hits and one earned run. Jimmy Jolicoeur, and Bryan Longpre relieved Tremlin, and the two pitched effectively, however, two Matador errors led to three Pacific runs.

The Matadors trailed 1-0 in the fourth when Dominic D’Anna tied the game with one swing, as he hit his sixth home run of the season. That was the only offense the Matadors had that afternoon.

The Tigers recorded two runs in the sixth inning and another in the eighth inning. All runs by the Tigers were unearned on the Matador errors.

Sunday

In the rubber game of the series the Tigers used a seven-run third inning to pull away with the 12-4 victory over the Matadors.

The Matadors got out to a fast start, as Ryan Pineda led the game off with a home run to left center. CJ Belanger followed with a double, and was later brought in to give the Matadors a 2-0 lead after half an inning.

The Tigers wasted no time in responding, as they scored three runs of their own in the first. Starting Matador pitcher Alex Muren lasted 2/3 of an inning before Shawn Wilyman replaced him.

The Matadors tied the game in the top of the third, thanks to a solo home run by Belanger, who went 4-for-5 on the afternoon.

The Tigers responded with a seven-run third inning that gave them the lead and the win.