The CSUN offense finally gave their pitchers run support. However, it came on a night when the pitchers allowed the most runs in a game all season.
The Matadors went into the 13th inning tied with the Loyola Marymount Lions 11-11 at Page Stadium on Wednesday night.
With a 10-9 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning, senior right-handed closer Shay Maltese gave up a double to Lion first baseman Tyler Cheek to score freshman shortstop David Fletcher to tie the game at 10.
CSUN would contain the late rally and keep the Lions scoreless in the bottom of the tenth, holding off LMU long enough to score the tying run in the top of the 11th inning.
After drawing a walk, senior shortstop Brett Balkan was bunted over to second base to put the winning run in scoring position with one out. Junior left fielder Nick Blaser singled off of Lion reliever Tyler Cohen to bring Blaser home to take the 11-10 lead.
Head coach Greg Moore would show confidence in Maltese but it would not pay off, as Maltese gave up the tying run in the bottom of the 11th to extend the game.
An LMU 7-5 lead was decimated in the top of the seventh inning, as CSUN exploded for an uncharacteristic five runs off of two Lion relievers. The Matadors took advantage of light hitting including two singles, a walk and a wild pitch to score more runs in half an inning than their last four games. Sophomore third baseman Nicholas Osuna and junior right fielder Chester Pak each drove in one of their two RBIs of the game as they padded the CSUN lead with the ninth and tenth runs for the Matadors.
Sophomore right-handed reliever Anthony Cortez allowed the Lions to get closer late in the game as he allowed a bases-loaded walk and ground ball to give the Lions two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come within 10-9.
The Matadors struck first with a third inning 2-0 lead and grabbed the lead temporarily in the fifth inning 5-3.
The Matadors shook Lions sophomore right-handed starter Mitch Russell in the top of the second inning. CSUN loaded the bases for junior second baseman Ryan Raslowsky, who drew a full count walk to score senior center fielder Ranny Lowe. CSUN would add to their 1-0 lead one batter later in a wild play.
On a full count, junior catcher Nick Murphy grounded a shot to the pitching mound. Russell threw out Osuna on a force out at home base. Freshman catcher Cassidy Brown threw to third base to catch Pak who was advancing from second to third. But his throw did not find the glove of the third baseman as Pak was able to run home on the error and score. In the commotion, Raslowsky attempted to advance to third base, when he was thrown out as the Lions were able to handle the error and get the ball to freshman third baseman Ted Boeke, who tagged out Raslowsky.
Murphy would be the lone Matador on the basepaths following the play, as he was able to advance to second base as the Lions protected home and third base on the previous play. However, he would not come around to score as the Lions were able to quell the Matador rally.
