CSUN No Knockout But Still Wins, 4-2

Five games into the collegiate baseball season, Cal State Northridge Coach Terry Craven is more concerned with performance than result.

That explains his evaluation of the Matadors’ 4-2 victory over U. S. International University on Wednesday afternoon at Northridge.

“I was thinking that at some point, we’re going to have to get the killer instinct of really trying to put somebody away,” Craven said.

CSUN never delivered the knockout blow to USIU, getting by with more than a little help from its guests.

Trailing, 1-0, after Gulls center fielder Ron Green hit a leadoff home run, the Matadors capitalized on a pair of errors in the bottom half of the inning to score all the runs they needed.

Todd Mustin and Gary Williams reached base when USIU second baseman Joe Canales booted consecutive ground balls. Third baseman Chris Pinsak then singled to score Mustin. Catcher Scott McIntyre followed one out later with a two-run single.

CSUN scored its final run in the fourth inning when Dan Jones’ ground out scored Mark Anderson, who had singled.

The victory went to sophomore John LaRosa. He allowed four hits over six innings. LaRosa, who struck out three and walked seven, was supported by a defense that turned three double plays behind him, and four overall.

“Defensively, we’re doing OK,” Craven said. “Right now, defensively, we’re playing well up the middle. We turned some tough double plays a couple times today. But you have to remember that the pitcher is making the pitch to initiate that.

“John’s not sharp and not under control, but we wanted him to get in about 75 pitches against outside competition and he did that. So we’re happy from that standpoint.”

The loss dropped USIU’s record to 0-5 this season.

Notes

Dan Gonzalez (0-0) will be the starting pitcher at Pepperdine on Saturday. . . . Jeremy Hernandez (1-1) will start Sunday’s home date with Santa Clara, and John LaRosa (1-0) is the likely starter Monday against Azusa Pacific, CSUN Coach Terry Craven said Wednesday.

USIU 100 001 000 -- 2 5 2

CS Northridge 300 100 00x -- 4 7 1

USIU--Long and Waters.

CS NORTHRIDGE--LaRosa, Cina (7) and McIntyre.

WP--LaRosa (1-0); LP--Long (0-1).