Kendrena Strikes Out 17 to Set CSUN Record

Whaddya say, Mister K?

Kenny Kendrena would prefer to be called something different. Like his real name. But Kendrena, a senior right-hander at Cal State Northridge, will have a tougher time than ever shaking the moniker after his performance Wednesday against visiting Chapman.

Kendrena, introduced to the crowd before the game as “Mr. K,” had everyone thinking Ks as he equaled a career high with 17 strikeouts. Kendrena’s five-hitter led the surging Matadors (26-7-1) to a 6-0 nonconference win, their seventh consecutive victory.

Kendrena (8-4), who grunted with every delivery, recorded a very special K in the eighth inning by striking out Buster Nietzke to become the Matadors’ career strikeout leader. In the ninth, Kendrena struck out the side to raise his career total to 257, four more than Craig Clayton, who set the old record between 1989 and 1991.

For good measure, Kendrena also notched his 22nd career complete game, tying Clayton’s school record. Kendrena has 10 complete games this season.

“I don’t tell the guy to say that,” Kendrena said of the pregame introduction. “I wish he wouldn’t. That stuff’s all nice. I knew I was 13 away, or something like that. But you don’t plan on going out and throwing 13 strikeouts.”

Especially when Kendrena was tagged for three home runs in a 9-8 loss to Chapman in early February. Yet even then he seemed overpowering, the Panthers said.

“We did that with seven runs coming on three home runs and it was his second start or something,” Chapman Coach Mike Weathers said. “He still pretty much dominated. Kenny Kendrena is one of the better guys in the country. We were totally humiliated and totally dominated today.”

Kendrena, who had 17 strikeouts in an 11-inning game against UC Irvine last season, was in control throughout, shuffling a split-finger fastball, curve and “one change-up the whole day,” he said. Only one of his victims took a called third strike and Kendrena did not walk a batter.

The shutout was his second this season.

“I knew the last time I faced these guys I didn’t have my best stuff,” said Kendrena, who entered the game with a 3.38 earned-run average. “My game plan was to just come out and fire it. I had command, used all my pitches and threw them all for strikes.

“The split-finger was about the best it’s been all year.”

Kendrena retired 10 in a row at one point and twice retired eight in a row. He struck out the side three times.

The only threat Chapman (28-14) mustered came in the first inning when Nietzke led off with a double. But Kendrena stranded him there and did not allow another runner to reach second.

“You certainly don’t get any better than he was today,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said. “If he has that kind of a split-finger, you won’t be able to hit it.”

Northridge struck for two runs in the first inning off junior right-hander James Thomas (6-3). With one out and Andy Hodgins at first, Scott Richardson hit the first of two doubles to put runners at second and third. Mike Solar drove both home with a single.

In the third, Richardson, who was three for four, doubled to score Greg Shockey, who led off with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.

In the fourth, Denny Vigo drove in Greg Shepard with a sacrifice fly, and Shepard closed out the scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth.