Sims Leads Barrage as CS Northridge Pounds Fresno State, 13-6 : College baseball: Catcher has five hits, four runs batted in, and Matadors keep alive hopes of gaining NCAA tournament berth.

While Cal State Northridge left-hander John Bushart was getting rocked by Fresno State in the early innings Friday, he said he took comfort in his expectation that his teammates, particularly the man catching his pitches, would produce runs by the bunches.

Bushart proved prophetic as catcher Mike Sims went five for five and drove in four runs to lead the 23rd-ranked Matadors to a 13-6 win over the 11th-ranked Bulldogs.

Rallying from deficits of 2-0, 3-0, and 4-2, Northridge (32-17, 12-10 in the Western Athletic Conference) broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning and a five-run fifth inning.

In the fourth, Joey Arnold reached on an error, ninth batter David Prosenko lashed a one-out double to right and Greg Shepard drove in Arnold and Prosenko with a double, tying the score, 4-4.

Three weeks ago when the Bulldogs swept Northridge, Shepard was an uncharacteristic one for 13.

One out later, Andy Small walked and Sims (who else?) belted a two-run double to center for a 6-4 lead.

Keyaan Cook and Arnold singled and Jason Shanahan was hit by a pitch, loading the bases in the fifth for Prosenko. He rapped a curveball that fell an eyelash inside the right-field line for a three-run double that drove left-hander Mike Salazar (11-2) out of the game, ending his streak of 11 consecutive wins.

With two out, Small singled to drive in Prosenko and Sims’ single drove in Small, giving Northridge an 11-4 lead. Bushart (10-3) settled down to post his eighth complete game.

The victory was just one of at least two the Matadors need in this three-game series against Fresno State (35-18, 13-7) to have a realistic chance of gaining an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s just one game,” said Sims who extended his hitting streak to 17 games and raised his average to a team-high .344. It is the first time the four-year starter from Alemany High has led Northridge in hitting.

“I am seeing the ball so well that I’m hitting it wherever it’s pitched,” he said.

A career .284 hitter, Sims was not drafted last season because his hitting was suspect.

“It’s do-or-die time because I’m a senior,” Sims said of next month’s draft. “I’m excited for it; it is a lifetime goal. But right now I have a job to do here. If I do well here, that’ll take care of the draft.”

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Oft-injured pitcher Steven Morales thought his season was over after making his first and only appearance March 23. But in a surprising recovery, Morales will start Sunday against Fresno State.

Northridge Coach Bill Kernen admits it is a gamble starting Morales, but he said that Morales has shown great velocity in recent practices and that he is the type of player who can rise to the challenge.

By starting Morales, workhorse Keven Kempton can gain a much-needed rest for the season finale Tuesday against defending national champion Pepperdine.