Northridge Lets One Slip Away

Cal State Northridge is attempting to get a grip on the race for the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. baseball title.

The Matadors, however, could not find the handle on three ground balls in the eighth inning Tuesday, leading to three Cal Poly Pomona runs in a 5-2 loss to the Broncos.

Pomona, which entered the game in second place behind Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, improved to 17-23 overall and 10-8 in the CCAA. Third-place Northridge is 20-13-1, 9-9-1.

“We won it the easy way,” Pomona Coach John Scolinos said facetiously. “I’d be in the insane asylum if that happened to me.”

Northridge pitcher Fili Martinez (4-4) looked as if he was fit to be tied after the errors that spoiled another solid outing. The senior left-hander scattered nine hits and struck out five.

“He was getting better as the game went along,” Northridge catcher Rusty McLain said of Martinez. “He did the job he had to do and we didn’t back him up.”

The score was tied, 2-2, with one out in the eighth when Martinez hit Dan Fouts with a pitch, surrendered a single to Brian Grier and walked Max Hardy to load the bases and set the stage for the Matador follies.

Pomona scored what proved to be the game-winning run when Northridge third baseman Denny Vigo made a fielding error on a ground ball hit by Miccal Jackson.

The Broncos went ahead, 4-2, when Mike Baker hit a ground ball to Northridge first baseman Anton Siegl who committed an error on a one-hop throw to the plate that McLain was unable to handle.

Martinez struck out Jorge Araujo for the second out, but Northridge second baseman Randy Thompson misplayed a ground ball hit by Dave Hajek that allowed the final run to score.

Pomona right-hander Wayne Koklys (4-3) pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and striking out seven.

Chae-Ho Chong hit a home run in the third inning and drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to produce both CSUN runs.