Nelson Makes Sacrifice as CSUN Beats Hawaii

Third baseman Tyler Nelson took one on the chin for the Cal State Northridge baseball team Sunday, then delivered a knockout punch of his own.

Nelson was asked to bunt in the sixth inning of the Matadors’ Western Athletic Conference game against Hawaii, but his attempt bounced up and hit him in the chin. A moment later, with the bunt sign off, Nelson stroked a key single to help Northridge win, 7-3, in front of 2,475 at Rainbow Stadium.

Northridge led, 3-1, and had two runners on when Nelson singled on a 1-and-2 pitch. The Matadors (21-21, 9-6 in conference play) scored three times in the inning.

“We needed to extend (the lead) right there at that point,” Nelson said. “We needed to get out of here with another win.”

Right-hander Marco Contreras (6-4) went the distance for the 10th time in 11 starts. He held Hawaii (23-21, 5-10) to nine hits as the Matadors, who won two of three in the series, closed to within one-half game of first-place San Diego State (8-4) in WAC West Division play.

Contreras struck out two and walked five. The game plan was rather simple in spacious Rainbow Stadium: Let the defense do its job.

“I’d rather have ground balls than strikeouts any day,” Contreras said. “It means less pitches.”

Five players drove in runs in the finale as the Matadors won only their second road series in two seasons of WAC competition.

“I’ve been saying all year that you have to win one series on the road and then play well at home,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said. “I figure we need 15 wins (in conference) to win this thing and we have nine games left. I guess we know what we need to do, huh?”

Northridge has home series remaining against Cal State Sacramento and San Diego State, then finishes the year at Fresno State.

Hawaii loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Contreras induced a double-play grounder from Chad Drown.

Kevin Howard had three hits to lead the offense. Jason Shanahan hit a two-run homer in the third.

In Saturday night’s 13-7 loss, four Northridge pitchers combined to allow 15 hits and 10 walks.