SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Cal State Northridge scored five runs in the first innings and led 12-0 before cruising to a 15-5 win over Sacramento State Friday afternoon at Hornet Field.
The win improved the Matadors to 29-22 overall and 7-9 in Big West Conference games. The Hornets, who had won five of their last seven games, fell to 23-31 overall and 3-10 in league.
Northridge took advantage of four hits and two Sacramento State errors in the first inning to score its five runs. J.T. Stotts began the rally with an infield single. Following a botched bunt. Tim Arroyo hit a double-play ball to second which was mishandled allowing the inning to continue. With runners of the corners, Mike Miranda forced Arroyo into a rundown between first and second. Stotts broke home on the play and eluded the tag of catcher Joe Evans to score the game''s first run. Robert Smith followed with a single to score Arroyo and Eric Verbryke then walked. Jeremy Hanson then hit a chopper to first where Daryl Grant threw to second to start the 3-6-3 double play. However, Tito Barba dropped the throw and all runners were safe. Jason Allec drove in a pair of runs with a single to right and Jesus Osuna singled to score one more run.
The Matadors added to their lead in the second behind an RBI single by Arroyo. Hanson forced in another run when he was hit with the bases loaded and Jason Allec was credited with an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
The early lead was plenty for CSN starter Kameron Loe. The sophomore threw seven innings and struck out five. Loe was touched for 12 hits but allowed just two runs. Helping his cause were double plays turned by the Matadors including one in both the first and second innings.
Sacramento State starter Mike Miranda fell to 8-5 with the loss. Miranda, who had won his last three starts, lasted just 2.0 innings and gave up eight runs (four earned). Benny Gonzalez, Kurt Mendonsa and Casey Fuller followed but fared no better.
Northridge collected 19 hits as a team led by Stotts and Smith with four each. Arroyo had three. The Hornet offense was paced by Cory Williams and Carlos Morales with three hits each. Chris Kinsey also drove in three runs including two on a bases-loaded single tin the eighth.
The two teams will continue the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
| Cal State Northridge (29-22, 7-9) | 533 120 010 | - | 15 | 19 | 1 |
| Sacramento State (23-31, 3-10) | 000 110 030 | - | 5 | 14 | 2 |
WP - Kameron Loe (4-1)
LP - Mike Miranda (8-5)
Kameron Loe, Alberto Flores (8), Ryan McDermott (8), Craig Mosher (9) and Jason Allec, Phillip Archer (4); Mike Miranda, Benny Gonzalez (3), Kurt Mendonsa (5), Casey Fuller (7) and Joe Evans, Justin Bassey (6)
TOP HITTERS: CSN - Robert Smith 4x4, 3B, J.T. Stotts 4x6, Tim Arroyo 3x6, Adam Nikolic 2x5, 2 2B, Jesus Osuna 2x5, HR, Aaron McKenzie HR; SAC - Cory Williams 3x5, 2B, Carlos Morales 3x5, 2B, Dave Lusk 2x5, 2B, Chris Kinsey 2x5, 2B.
