Eggert Proves Existence of CSUN Bullpen : College baseball: Reliever’s four shutout innings mark his first appearance in 10 months and highlight 9-3 Matador win.

Spotting a relief pitcher in a Cal State Northridge baseball uniform is akin to sighting a UFO: One needs substantial and documented proof before claiming that such a thing exists.

But in Thursday’s nonconference game against Portland, Northridge left-hander David Eggert provided the Pilots with four innings of two-hit reality as the Matadors took a 9-3 decision at Northridge.

Eggert, a senior, was making his first appearance of the season, ascribable to the fact that Northridge has 11 complete games in 16 attempts. But he showed few ill effects from the long rest, emerging from the bullpen in the sixth to strike out eight batters in four innings.

“It’s nice to be out there, that’s for sure,” said Eggert, who last pitched in a game for CSUN on May 4, 1991. “I just stuck with the fastball and curve, and it worked.”

In picking up the victory in relief of starter Steven Morales, Eggert limited Portland (6-7-1) to a pair of infield singles and a hit batter. He did not allow a runner to reach second base.

“It was great to see him come out and do that,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said. “He had good stuff and good command.”

Portland scored a pair of unearned runs to take a 3-1 lead after 1 1/2 innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, Northridge (10-5-1) scored four runs on three hits and a pair of errors to go ahead, 5-3.

Northridge right fielder Kyle Washington, who extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a run-scoring triple in the first, started the rally in the sixth with a walk. He moved to third when designated hitter Jason Shanahan singled and left fielder Greg Shepard was hit by a pitch.

First baseman Mike Solar followed with a sacrifice fly that drove in Washington, then Denny Vigo and Mike Sims banged back-to-back RBI singles to give CSUN a 4-3 lead.

For Vigo, a senior third baseman, the single snapped an 0-for-28 streak dating to Feb. 25.

Scott Richardson, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, manufactured CSUN’s fourth run with a fake steal. Falling for the bluff, Portland catcher Dan Chastain threw the ball into center field and Vigo scored from third.

Northridge pushed across a run in the seventh on a walk, a stolen base and an RBI single by Shanahan.

Richardson added a two-run single past a drawn-in infield in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 15. Greg Shockey concluded the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.

Northridge totaled 12 hits with Solar, Sims and freshman Shanahan each collecting two.