Northridge Offensive Falls Short : Matadors Run Out of Rallies, 17-14

Terry Craven had just watched his Cal State Northridge baseball team pile up 13 hits and 14 runs in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“Our offensive output,” the CSUN coach said, “was one of the bright spots.”

Actually, it was the only bright spot for the Matadors, who ran out of rallies and lost, 17-14, on a windy Wednesday at Matador Field, just a day after CSUN and Chapman had combined for 34 hits and 29 runs.

Craven took longer to explain the dark spots.

“Bad pitching, bad baserunning, bad fielding,” he said.

Bad, indeed. CSUN resorted to its No. 1 starter, Dan Penner, in the eighth inning to put a lid on Cal Poly--about seven innings too late.

For CSUN, John Balfanz singled in Pierre Rodnunsky in the first, and Rodnunsky singled home Scott Stewart in the second to keep the Matadors alive--for a while.

But the 3-hour, 45-minute marathon really began to hop in the top of the second inning when Cal Poly scored six runs on six hits and three walks to go ahead, 6-1. After 4 1/2 innings, the Mustangs led, 14-3.

Then, CSUN staged rally No. 1. In the bottom of the fifth, third baseman Tim Rapp singled and stole second. Balfanz singled and Mark Anderson walked. Stewart’s single scored Rapp and Balfanz. Jim Mitchell singled in Stewart and scored on a sacrifice fly by Rodnunsky as CSUN cut the Mustangs’ lead to 14-7.

Rally No. 2 came in the CSUN sixth. Right fielder Lenn Gilmore led off with a single. Rapp walked, and Cal Poly starter Erick Bralien was replaced by reliever Lee Hancock. Balfanz walked, and Anderson singled, scoring Gilmore and Rapp. Rob Scott replaced Stewart as designated hitter and grounded out to short, scoring Balfanz. Anderson then scored when Cal Poly right fielder Rick Shepperd couldn’t handle a fly ball by Mitchell. CSUN trailed, 14-11.

“We can hit and score runs and play catch-up with anybody,” Craven said in reference to Wednesday’s game and Tuesday’s against Chapman, in which CSUN rallied to win, 15-14. “But we can’t depend on that to happen all the time.”

What the Matadors (4-3) must depend on is pitching. Leo Ramirez, who was impressive in his first start earlier this season, walked the first three batters he faced. He got out of the inning unscathed but was relieved by Pablo Suarez in the second after he gave up five hits and walked three. Alan Jaeger and John LaRosa also pitched before Penner came in.

“I still think our Nos. 1 and 2 pitchers are going to pitch well,” Craven said. “But it’s the 3, 4 and 5 guys that have to come through. And it’s not entirely their fault. I mean, if you look at the innings pitched stats on this club you’ll find that the one and two guys dominate. It’s just a matter of getting the other guys a chance to pitch.”

Cal Poly (1-5) got a chance to pad its lead in the eighth. Joe Rumsey bunted safely, Matt King walked and John Orton homered. Penner entered the game and struck out two to end the inning with the Mustangs leading, 17-10.

Rally No. 3 was on. Balfanz began the CSUN eighth with a walk, followed by a single by Anderson, who finished 3 for 6 with 2 RBIs. Scott struck out and Mitchell walked. Catcher Scott McIntyre grounded out to third, scoring Balfanz. Anderson and Mitchell then scored on a triple by Rodnunsky, who finished with two hits and four RBIs. CSUN trailed, 17-14. Jim Vatcher grounded out to end the inning.