Northridge to Play in Tournament at North Carolina : College baseball: Busy Kernen commits Matadors to 1992 event and signs two more high school players.

The fallout from Cal State Northridge’s top 10 finish in the Matadors’ first season of Division I baseball has reached the East Coast.

Northridge, 44-18-1 last season, has accepted an invitation to play in a tournament at the University of North Carolina in mid-May next year, the week before the start of the NCAA regionals.

Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said the Matadors received a small monetary guarantee and will have their lodging and transportation costs paid by their hosts.

Kernen attributed the invitation to Northridge’s success last season when the Matadors advanced to the West II Regional championship game. “This is another indication that word is getting out,” he said.

Northridge turned down an offer by Oklahoma State--which was willing to pay the Matadors to travel to Stillwater, Okla., for a series next March--because it conflicted with a planned trip to Nevada Las Vegas, March 17-19.

In addition to the schedule, Kernen has been concentrating on recruiting. As a result, two more high school players are in the fold.

Steve Bernstein, a catcher from Simi Valley High, signed with Northridge on Tuesday. Bernstein (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) batted .444 with 31 runs batted in as a senior.

Additionally, Northridge signed Erik Lazerus, an All-City Section 4-A Division shortstop from University. Lazerus (5-8, 145 pounds) batted .476 with 17 doubles and stole 19 bases.