Northridge Gets Jump on Irvine : College baseball: Shockey homers on second pitch of the game to launch Matadors to 3-1 victory. Eggert now 5-0.

Cal State Northridge’s Greg Shockey took a good look at David Bladow’s first pitch Thursday. Then he took a good swing at the second pitch, driving it 400 feet to center field for a home run to start the Matadors on their way to a 3-1 nonconference victory over UC Irvine at Irvine.

And with David Eggert on the mound, that one swing was just about all the Matadors (25-7-1) needed. Eggert, replacing the injured Steven Morales in the rotation, scattered five hits and struck out five to improve to 5-0.

“It’s a big plus when your leadoff guy can get you a run like that,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said.

Bladow (7-3) struck out nine and did not allow a walk but gave up 12 hits in going the distance.

Shockey, who was three for four with a double, also drove in CSUN’s second run. With Denny Vigo on second base in the second inning, Shockey sent a blooper to center that fell among center fielder Ray Walker, second baseman Vinnie Orlando (a former Notre Dame standout), and right fielder Steve Ott, allowing Vigo to score.

Irvine, playing without regular first baseman Corey Parker and starting second baseman Joe Furukawa who are out with flu--was further stymied by its own inability to bunt and some fine defense on CSUN’s part.

With runners at first and second and two out in the fourth, Ott drove the ball to the wall in left field. But Chris Olsen robbed Ott of extra bases, crashing into the wall to make the catch.

Irvine botched sacrifice bunt attempts in the sixth and eighth innings when the Anteaters trailed by only a run.

Irvine (16-15) drew within 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh on three singles and a balk, but a baserunning mistake cost it a chance to get more. Ott scored when shortstop Andy Hodgins plugged the gap on a grounder by Orlando but threw late to first. Dave Dieter tried to follow Ott home, but first baseman Mike Solar easily threw him out.

Northridge added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on doubles by Shockey and Scott Richardson.