SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Cal State Northridge scored six runs in the
second inning and never looked back en route to an 8-3 win over
Sacramento State Sunday afternoon in the final game at Hornet Field
this season. The victory by the Matadors completed a three-game sweep
in which CSN outscored the Hornets, 32-9.
Northridge improved to 31-22 overall and ended its Big West
Conference season with a 9-9 mark. Sacramento State dropped to 23-33
overall and 3-12 in the Big West. The Hornets will conclude their
conference schedule next weekend at Pacific.
The big second inning began when Eric Verbryke walked. Jeremy Hanson
followed with a single to center field which was misplayed allowing
Verbryke to score. A bunt single by Jason Allec scored Hanson and
gave the team a 2-0 lead. Walks to Jesus Osuna and J.T. Stotts loaded
the bases with two outs before Adam Nikolic doubled scoring all three
runners. Tim Arroyo followed with another double to plate Nikolic.
The six-run cushion proved to be plenty for starter Bill Murphy. The
sophomore threw seven strong innings and allowed just five hits and
one run. Murphy also struck out nine while walking two.
Sacramento State's one run off Murphy came in the fifth inning when
senior Tim Maghan hit his seventh home run of the season to
left-center field. The Matadors, however, responded with a pair of
runs in the sixth inning on singles by Jason Gorman and Nikolic.
The Hornets made a little noise in the ninth inning. Senior Carlos
Morales opened the frame with a single to right. Dave Lusk was hit by
a pitch before Seth Atchue singled up the middle scoring Morales.
Mike Bender followed with a bloop single down the right field line
scoring Lusk. The game came to a close when pinch hitter Mike Miranda
(a pitcher) flew out to center field.
Freshman Marshall Plouffe was dealt his first loss of the season.
Plouffe fell to 2-1 on the year after giving up six runs in five
innings of work. Joey Robinson threw the sixth and the seventh
innings before giving way to Michael Penbera who pitched the final
two innings.
Allec (3-for-4) and Nikolic (2-for-5) were the only to Matadors to
record multiple hits in the game. The Hornets were led by Lusk and
Maghan who each had two.
Prior to the start of the game, Sacramento State honored its 11
seniors who were playing their final home game. All 11 saw playing
time during the game and accounted for each of the Hornets' eight
hits.
Cal State Northridge (31-22, 9-9) 060 002 000 - 8
10 0
Sacramento State (23-33, 3-12) 000 010 002 - 3 8 1
WP - Bill Murphy (9-4)
LP - Marshall Plouffe (2-1)
Bill Murphy, Bobby Graves (8), Mike Frick (9) and Jason Allec;
Marshall Plouffe, Joey Robinson (6), Michael Penbera (8) and Dave
Lusk.
TOP HITTERS: CSN - Jason Allec 3x4, 2B, Adam Nikolic 2x5, 2B, Tim
Arroyo 2B, Eric Verbryke 2B; SAC - Tim Maghan 2x3, HR, Dave Lusk 2x3.
