CSUN Loses Home Opener, 6-3

Tony Mortensen left a scholarship behind when he transferred from Division I power Fresno State to Cal State Stanislaus for his final season of eligibility.

Stanislaus, which moved from the Division III to the Division II level this season, does not award athletic grants. But Mortensen was happy to pay his own way.

“I wanted to spend my senior year somewhere I would enjoy playing,” Mortensen said. “It’s turned out well so far.”

In his first start for Stanislaus--and his first appearance since undergoing knee surgery in the spring of 1988--Mortensen pitched a complete game in the Warriors’ 6-3 win over Northridge on Friday at Matador Field.

The left-hander from Rexburg, Ida., scattered six hits and struck out seven as Stanislaus shook off Thursday’s 13-2 season-opening drubbing by Cal State Los Angeles and spoiled the Matadors’ (2-3) home opener.

Stanislaus collected 17 hits off starter Vale Lopez (1-1), who pitched 6 2/3 innings, and reliever Todd Denhart. Shortstop Rich Ortega led the Warrior offense with three hits, including a fifth-inning triple that scored two runs and a solo home run in the ninth that sealed the victory.

Stanislaus took a 1-0 lead in the second on Tim Kassel’s homer, but the Matadors came back with two runs in the third on a run-scoring double by Denny Vigo and a run-scoring single by Eric Johnson.

The Warriors, however, regained the lead with a three-run fifth. Brad Roznovsky keyed the rally with a fly ball to left that Craig Clayton misplayed into a run-scoring double.

“(That play) probably ended up being the difference,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said.