Northridge’s Defeat Is Doubly Damaging : College baseball: San Diego State wins in ninth, 9-8, as Matador right-hander Najar leaves the game with arm injury.

It was Little League night Friday at San Diego State and the stands were filled with youngsters begging players for baseballs.

Hope the young ‘uns weren’t paying close attention. Though the game pitted teams tied for first place in the Western Athletic Conference West Division, it wasn’t exactly a how-to clinic.

San Diego State’s Tony Zaragoza homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth as the Aztecs came back to edge Cal State Northridge, 9-8, in the opener of a key WAC series at Smith Field.

It was a game that was as bizarre as it was costly. The Matadors (18-18, 6-4 in conference play) not only lost the game, they also may have lost right-hander John Najar.

One pitch after Travis Lee singled home two runs to hand the Aztecs an 8-7 lead in the eighth, Najar injured his elbow while pitching to Doug Webb.

On the pitch, which went to the backstop, catcher Eric Gillespie retrieved the ball and tagged out Jeff DaVanon, who attempted to score from third.

Najar, meanwhile, was in agony and walked into short right field, cradling his forearm in his left hand.

According to reports from the Northridge dugout, Najar may have fractured a bone in his forearm.

Reliever Jason Vargas (1-4) retired Webb for the third out, but though the Matadors pulled even in the top of the ninth, things ended fast in the Aztecs’ final at-bat when Zaragoza belted Vargas’ first pitch.

It was his fourth homer of the year and it marked the second time in as many games that Vargas suffered a tough loss in the bottom of the ninth.

He also was the losing pitcher in Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to Long Beach State.

Northridge tied the game in the top of the ninth on a single by Jonathan Campbell and a fielding error by left fielder Kurston McMurray.

San Diego State (22-14, 7-3) was definitely generous. The Aztecs committed six errors and the pitching staff hit two batters and unloaded as many wild pitches.

The wildest inning, perhaps of the season, took place in the Northridge half of the second.

The Matadors trailed, 3-1, but loaded the bases with one out. Catcher Eric Gillespie then sent a grounder to second to start an apparent 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

However, Aztec catcher Rob Plarski was called for catcher’s interference, which allowed Gillespie to automatically reach first and force across a run.

Pitcher Joe Duggan wild-pitched home a run with Brian Vasey at the plate to tie the game, then walked Vasey to reload the bases . . . or maybe not.

The plate umpire, Andy Lopez, lost track of the count, and Vasey was called back from first. He made the most of his new chance, delivering a two-run double to the gap in right-center for a 5-3 lead.

Vasey has nine RBIs in his past six games.

The Matadors took the lead in the sixth inning, which was almost as bizarre as the second.

Vasey and first baseman Jason Shanahan opened the inning with singles to chase Duggan. With one out, reliever John Lynn hit Keyaan Cook and then walked Chad Thornhill to force home a run and tie the score, 6-6.

Lynn was yanked in favor of right-hander Vern Pallett who did exactly what Coach Jim Dietz hoped for: He served up an inning-ending double-play ball.

Unfortunately for San Diego State, Pallett forgot what to do when Nelson tapped back to the mound for what should have been a routine 1-2-3 double play.

He looked toward home, then fired to first to record the putout as Shanahan scored from third for a 7-6 lead.

Pallett knew he’d made a big mistake as soon as he released the ball and looked heavenward.

Duggan, a senior, allowed seven runs, six earned, over six innings.

Najar struggled early, found the groove in the middle innings, then wobbled late.