COLLEGE BASEBALL DAILY PLAYOFF REPORT : CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE : Playoffs a Family Affair for Mowls

Scott Mowl, Cal State Northridge’s first baseman and cleanup hitter, received a pleasant surprise at the hotel Thursday night in the form of his father, Frank.

Frank Mowl normally shies away from travel by airplane, but he bit the bullet for son Scott, a senior who leads the Matadors with 55 runs batted in. “They kept it a surprise from me,” Mowl said. “He was just sitting back there real casual-like.”

Scott expected as much from his mother Miriam who has traveled with the team most of the season. She even flew to North Carolina for Northridge’s final regular-season series.

“They’re pretty fired up about this,” Mowl said of his parents. “They know this is something I’ve always dreamed about.”

Northridge was 9-4 under Coach Bill Kernen in NCAA playoff games going into action against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, conversely, have far more experience. In 15 seasons under Coach Gary Ward, Oklahoma State was 41-11 in regional play and 58-26 overall in the playoffs. Northridge and Oklahoma State had not met before Saturday.

When David Eggert was lifted in favor of Kevin Kloek to start the second inning against Oklahoma State, it marked the earliest Kernen had replaced his starting pitcher in three seasons at Northridge.