Hawaii Jumps on Top Early to Defeat CSUN

The rubber match Sunday between Cal State Northridge and Hawaii was supposed to favor the Matadors, who have three quality pitchers, one more than the Rainbows.

But the 21st-ranked Matadors could not capitalize on the scatter-armed pitching of Hawaii’s Roger Mills and Eugene Myers in a 3-1 loss before 3,255 at Rainbow Stadium.

The Matadors (20-9, 6-6 in Western Athletic Conference play) fell into fourth place in the WAC Western Division, trailing Hawaii (4-2), CS Sacramento (7-5) and Fresno State (4-3).

“It puts us in a position where we have to be really good at home and hope that everybody else stays muddled up together in the standings,” said Northridge Coach Bill Kernen of a schedule that calls for nine of the 12 remaining WAC games to be played at Matador Field.

With the exception of the first inning when he gave up two runs, Northridge pitcher John Bushart (6-2) was exceptional, holding Hawaii to seven hits. Bushart’s first-inning difficulty was experienced by fellow pitchers Keven Kempton in an 11-9 win Friday and by Marco Contreras in a 6-0 loss Saturday.

“I’ve never pitched in a park that is so big,” Bushart said. Everything is so far away and you can’t hear anyone in the dugout like you can in our park. You feel like you’re the only one out there.”

In the third inning, a mistake by third base coach P.C. Shaw proved costly. On Jonathan Campbell’s one-out double to left, Shaw had relatively slow Jason Shanahan attempt to score from first. Shanahan was easily thrown out at the plate and Shepard followed with a single, driving in Campbell.