COLLEGE BASEBALL: NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL : Northridge Bowls Over Arizona St.

Coach Bill Kernen had his postgame comments already prepared had Cal State Northridge lost to Arizona State on Friday in the opener of the NCAA Midwest Regional.

So much for the best-laid plans.

For the first time in the three seasons he has guided the Matadors into postseason play, Kernen was made a first-round winner.

Greg Shockey, Northridge’s all-time leader in hits, had a couple of big ones in leading the Matadors to a 5-1 win over the Sun Devils before a rain-soaked crowd of about 1,000 at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium-Tyler Field.

Shockey’s first hit, in the fourth inning off Arizona State right-hander Jeff Matranga, came with his bat. The second, with his shoulder a few minutes later, sent ASU catcher Dave Robson head over heels.

Both were key blows as the Matadors advanced to the winners’ bracket. Northridge (38-14-1) next will play Oklahoma State (47-14) today at 5 p.m. The Cowboys scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Minnesota, 12-11, in a first-round game.

Shockey’s one-out single after a walk to Greg Shepard started a string of four consecutive hits as the Matadors erased a 1-0 deficit and took a 4-1 lead.

Scott Mowl followed Shockey’s hit with a looping opposite-field single to left that drove in Shepard and tied the score, 1-1.

Mike Solar then bounced a single into left that outfielder Brett Weinberger fielded before throwing a one-hopper to Robson, who was positioned in front of home plate. Unfortunately for Robson, Shockey arrived before the ball.

The Northridge senior, a former All-Orange County high school football player, delivered a bone-jarring blow to Robson’s chest, sending the catcher sprawling. Shockey scored and Mowl and Solar advanced to third and second.

“I think that might have served a little bit as a wake-up call,” Shockey said of the collision.

Andy Hodgins, the next hitter, was first to answer, blasting a two-run double off the 375-foot sign in left-center.

Kenny Kendrena took over from there.

After allowing five hits in the first three innings, the senior right-hander gave up only three more thereafter in his 13th complete game of the season.

Kendrena (11-6) struck out 11, walked three, and after the third inning allowed only one baserunner to reach second.

“We had the opportunities early and once he got past that he was awful tough,” Arizona State Coach Jim Brock said.

The Sun Devils (32-23) left runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings. Even in the second, when Arizona State scored its run, Kendrena escaped cheaply.

Scott Samuels led off with a single and took third on Jim Henderson’s double. But Kendrena retired the next three batters on a strikeout, a sacrifice fly by Weinberger that knocked in Samuels and a grounder to first base.

In the third, the Sun Devils again started with consecutive hits. This time Kendrena himself made sure they came up empty.

He accounted for the first out by pouncing on a sacrifice bunt attempt and throwing out Kurt Ehmann at third. Kendrena then struck out Antone Williamson and Samuels.

Ehmann, who combined with Samuels for half of ASU’s eight hits, said Sun Devil hitters grew impatient as the game wore on.

“We started beating ourselves,” he said. “He made some good pitches and we chased a lot.”

Matranga (10-7) a senior who transferred to Arizona State when United States International University dropped its baseball program after last season, had Northridge similarly befuddled in the early innings. Using a variety of off-speed pitches, he retired the first 10 Matadors in succession before Shepard, his former USIU teammate, was issued a one-out walk to ignite the four-run fourth.

Shepard also accounted for the Matadors’ final run. In the fifth, he singled with two out, moved to second on an error by Ehmann and scored on a single to right by Mowl.

Other than Northridge’s six hits in the middle innings, Matranga allowed only two other baserunners--Shepard on a walk and Hodgins on a bunt single.

In two starts for USIU against Northridge last season, Matranga split, losing, 6-1, and winning, 4-3. The experience of having faced him before paid off.

“If we would have had to watch him five or six innings, trying to figure him out, it might have been too late,” Kernen said.

Northridge lost to Fresno State, 7-2, in the opening round of the West II Regional last season. In 1990, in a Division II West Regional opener, the Matadors dropped a 13-5 decision to UC Davis.