Pomona Slams Northridge’s Relief Bid, 8-4

Alan Jaeger, a relief pitcher for Cal State Northridge, said he wasn’t trying to do anything fancy Thursday when he replaced starter Jeremy Hernandez in the seventh inning of the Matadors’ California Collegiate Athletic Assn. opener against Cal Poly Pomona.

Nevertheless, with runners at first and second, nobody out and the Matadors trailing 4-2, Jaeger walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. The next batter, Keith Barrett, hit a 2-1 fastball over the left field fence for a grand slam that helped give the Broncos an 8-4 win at Pomona.

“I wasn’t in a situation where I was going to try and outsmart someone,” Jaegar said. “I was just trying to throw a strike. It was a bad pitch in a bad situation.”

Said Barrett: “He throws kind of sidearm so I was just looking to hit a slider back up the middle or to the right side. But, I got a fastball instead of a slider and just pulled it.”

Northridge (12-7, 0-1 in conference) had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but was never able to fully capitalize on Pomona pitcher Charlie Webb, who scatterred 11 hits. Webb (4-1), a senior lefthander, pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning and thwarted another potential CSUN rally in the sixth when he forced Jim Vatcher to hit into an inning-ending double play. It was Webb’s fifth complete game in as many starts this season.

The Matadors were victimized by a pair of .231 hitters in Barrett and freshman outfielder Jim Stowell. Barrett, a senior outfielder, was 2 for 5 with 4 RBIs. Stowell was 2 for 4 with a triple, home run and 2 RBIs.

CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE--Hernandez, Jaeger (7), LaRosa (7) and McIntyre.

CAL POLY POMONA--Webb and Schuster.

WP--Webb (4-1); LP--Hernandez (3-3).

2B: Cal State Northridge--Vatcher 2, Burns, Pinsak, Rapp. 3B: Cal Poly Pomona--Stowell. HR: Cal Poly Pomona--Stowell (2), Barrett (4).