With runs in the first four innings, the Matadors bounced back from a humiliating 9-0 loss to Seattle University in a rain-filled second game of a double-header Saturday at Matador Field.
The Cal State Northridge baseball team (2-1, 0-0 Big West) recorded five runs in the first inning and never looked back.
Matador infielder Josh Goossen-Brown homered to left field after an Alex Muren doubled down the left field line that scored Ridge Carpenter. The score was 3-0 at this point. Two more runs scored later in the inning, making the score, 5-0, on four hits.
First game of double-header
Shutout for shutout and a bang from Seattle.
After a Friday, 2-0, clean sheet of Seattle University, the Cal State Northridge baseball team got a taste of its own medicine.
The Matadors (1-1, 0-0 Big West) were blanked in devastating manner, 9-0, in the first game of Saturday’s double-header at Matador Field.
The Redhawks (1-1) jumped on Northridge in a busy fifth inning where they scored seven runs on two costly errors and two walks from the CSUN pitching staff.
Seattle second baseman Trent Oleszczuk reached on third baseman Tommy Simis’ error and advanced to second base after Matador pitcher Vincent Roberts hit Redhawk Bryndon Ecklund. Roberts then loaded the bases on fielding error and was replaced by Shawn Wilyman.
Then came the big bang.
Redhawk first baseman Josh Kalalau hit a grand slam to left center field, the first batter faced by Wilyman. Kalalau recorded four runs batted in on the home run.
More trouble came Northridge’s way after two quick outs when Wilyman walked a batter and gave up a single to Jace Sloan. The next batter, shortstop Nick Latta, crushed a three-run shot to left field, making the game 7-0 at that point.
Right-handed pitcher Harley Holt then replaced Wilyman after Latta’s home run and he closed out the fifth inning.
Holt gave up one hit before another productive inning from the Redhawks ruined his game.
In the top of the seventh inning, Seattle University got two more runs after Latta singled to shortstop TS Reed to score Redhawk infielder Sean Narby. After Holt picked up Latta at first, Oleszczuk singled to left field, scoring Doug Kincaid and making the game, 9-0.
Outfielder Alex Muren and designated hitter Adam Barry were the only Matadors who were able to reach base. Starter Roberts (0-1) pitched four innings for the loss, giving up two hits, two earned runs and seven strikeouts.
For the Redhawks, Kalalau finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Two other Seattle players hit two hits each.
Seattle recorded 10 hits and no errors as a team. Starter Brandon Kizer (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
Game Notes: In that explosive seventh inning for Seattle University, the Redhawks scored seven runs on only three hits… Northridge was held to two hits, one in the second and one in the fifth… The game ended after the seventh inning because it was part of a double-header… The victory marks the first for Seattle over the Matadors in Division I baseball.
