Denhart Rewards Kernen’s Confidence : College baseball: Northridge pitcher snuffs out UC Santa Barbara rally to save 8-5 victory.

At first glance, Todd Denhart’s credentials as a relief pitcher are impressive. He does, after all, hold the Cal State Northridge record for saves in a season.

Of course, a study of the fine print shows that record to be all of six, which Denhart recorded last season in 24 appearances.

Indeed Denhart, a senior right-hander, bares little resemblance to the common closer. He is not big--standing just 6 feet and weighing 190 pounds--and he is not one to clock on a radar gun.

Yet for all Denhart does not possess, he does have the confidence of Northridge Coach Bill Kernen. And Tuesday, in CSUN’s home opener against UC Santa Barbara, Denhart showed why.

With two on, one out, and a three-run Northridge advantage in danger in the eighth inning, Denhart struck out three of the six men he faced to save an 8-5 win.

It was Santa Barbara’s first loss after opening the season with five wins. Northridge, which had lost two of its past three, improved to 5-2 going into a three-game series with USC starting Thursday at Matador Field.

After allowing two hits and two unearned runs in one inning in a loss to Nevada Las Vegas on Sunday, Denhart said he welcomed the call.

“For (Kernen) to come back to me again shows he has a lot of confidence in me,” Denhart said.

Kernen’s faith was not immediately rewarded. Denhart was called on after CSUN starter Craig Clayton walked two batters but, on his fourth pitch to Rich Harr, Denhart gave up a single to right field that loaded the bases.

That brought up David Waco, the Gauchos’ No. 3 hitter and a Matador killer of some renown. Waco, from Chatsworth High, hit four home runs in two games against Northridge last season.

Denhart was not impressed: He struck out Waco, who froze on a fastball for strike three.

Next up, Notre Dame High graduate Jeff Antoon, an All-Big West Conference selection his first two seasons at Santa Barbara.

Antoon, who in the fifth inning had blasted his first home run of the season, struck out on three pitches--the last a slider on the outside corner for a called strike.

“To get those two hitters to take called third strikes in that situation, you have to give (Denhart) credit,” Gaucho Coach Al Ferrer said. “He did a great job.”

Said Kernen: “I never (hesitated) for a second on who to use in that situation. You know two things when (Denhart) is out there; he’s going to throw strikes and he’s going to battle.”

The win went to Clayton, who allowed seven hits, walked seven and struck out nine, throwing 162 pitches in 7 1/3 innings. Pat Treend, a freshman from El Camino Real High, took the loss.

Trailing, 1-0, CSUN got off the deck with one out in the third when Mike Sims singled, starting a string of five consecutive hits.

Clayton followed Sims’ hit with a single to left, setting the stage for Greg Shockey, who had hit safely in the six preceding games. He kept his streak going with a two-run double that put Northridge on top to stay. Scott Sharts followed Shockey’s blast with one that carried considerably farther. His home run to center, his fourth, put the Matadors ahead, 4-1.