Defense, Kempton’s Pitching Keys to CSUN’s 2-1 Victory

As deep as Andy Small was playing behind third base in the ninth inning Saturday, his only chance of making a game-saving play was to pick up the slow roller barehanded and make an off-balance throw.

Anticipating that the ball would tail off, first baseman Jason Shanahan made a muscle-burning stretch to his right to make the catch while keeping a foot on the bag.

Small’s throw, with runners at first and third and two out, beat Tony Moeder by an eyelash, preserving Cal State Northridge’s 2-1 nonconference victory over the University of San Diego at Cunningham Field.

“That dogfight brought some things out of us,” said Small, who scored the first of the Matadors’ two second-inning runs.

What Northridge (2-0) brought was top-notch pitching and tremendous defense, or as Coach Bill Kernen put it: “The pitching was outstanding, but the defense was better than outstanding.”

Among the defensive highlights:

-- Shanahan’s diving stop of a sharply hit ground ball just inside the line that resulted in a double play to end the eighth. After tagging first base from a prone position, he sprang to his feet and threw a strike to second base.

-- Center fielder Joey Arnold’s running catch on the warning track for the first out in the eighth. Arnold’s catch was timely. The next batter, designated hitter John Fenn, hit a home run that cut the Matadors’ lead in half.

-- Shortstop Andy Hodgins’ fine play in the sixth inning on a grounder in the hole by the leadoff hitter. Hodgins threw from the edge of the outfield grass.

Of his defensive gem, Shanahan said: “It was just a reaction, instinct. Before I knew it, the play was over. It sure was good for our confidence to win a tight game like that.”

Right-hander Keven Kempton, who pitched a three-hitter in his Division I debut, echoed that sentiment.

“It makes me very confident,” the junior transfer from East Los Angeles College said. “It makes me realize that working hard pays off.”

Kempton struck out five and walked four. Although he threw a half-dozen pitches in the dirt in the ninth, Kernen stayed with him.

Earlier, after Fenn had connected with a fastball high in the strike zone, Kernen had some soothing words for his pitcher.

“After I threw it, Coach (Kernen) came out and told me, ‘It doesn’t mean anything. One pitch won’t beat you,’ ” Kempton said. “I kept that in mind.”

Mike Saipe, the West Coast Conference freshman of the year, pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10 for San Diego (4-2) but was failed by his defense in the second inning.

After a leadoff walk to Small and a double by Mike Sims, Arnold reached first on a one-out error, Small scoring. Another error, this time by first baseman Moeder on a ball hit by Keyaan Cook, enabled Sims to score.

The three-game series ends today with CSUN’s home opener at 1:30 p.m. at Matador Field.