Northridge Beginning to Show Signs : College baseball: Matadors rally, score winning run in the ninth on Nelson’s bases-loaded, one-out single.

Was it a grin or a grimace? Either way, you could see many of Cal State Northridge first baseman Jason Shanahan’s teeth as he scored the winning run.

“If I’d have been him, I’d have been calling my dentist,” teammate Chad Thornhill said.

Shanahan almost redefined the term suicide squeeze when he scored the winning run from third base in the ninth inning as Northridge rallied to beat Cal State Sacramento, 7-6, Saturday in a Western Athletic Conference game at Matador Field.

With one out and the score tied, 6-6, Tyler Nelson stepped in with the bases loaded. Two batters earlier, Thornhill had drawn a walk from relief ace Steve Thobe (3-4) to force across the tying run.

Northridge flashed the sign for the suicide squeeze. Shanahan bolted toward the plate and. . . .

“I missed the sign,” Nelson said. “But at least I got it done.”

He did just that, lining a sharp single past the charging Shanahan and into left field, keeping hope of a WAC West Division title alive for the Matadors (22-23, 10-7), who trail first-place San Diego State by 1 1/2 games.

“Better to be lucky than good, I guess,” Thornhill said.

Northridge was neither in a 9-0 setback in the series opener and the Matadors stumbled through the early innings Saturday. They bunted into a double play in the fifth and scored the season’s homeliest unearned run later in the inning.

Thornhill struck out on a checked swing, then stood motionless in the batter’s box as catcher Jason Quintel fumbled around in the dirt for the ball. Shanahan, on second base, was the only guy in motion and he rounded third and headed for home.

Thornhill finally jogged halfheartedly toward first. Quintel found the ball, set himself, then hit Thornhill between the numbers with his throw for an error as Shanahan scored to give the Matadors a 4-3 lead. Thornhill was still 20 feet from first when he was plunked.

Sacramento (21-21, 8-9) took a one-run lead in the ninth on a single by Ray Brown, his fifth hit off surprise starter Aaron D’Aoust, who allowed four earned runs and 15 hits. D’Aoust (7-3) got the starting assignment when Jason Vargas arrived late for the game. Utility man Brian Vasey rode the bench for the same reason.

“Late. Isn’t that amazing?” Coach Bill Kernen said. “Is that a mind-boggling deal?”

So was the ninth, which included a bunt single from Keyaan Cook, who earlier bunted into a 1-5-3 double play on a sacrifice attempt. This time, he bunted past a stumbling Thobe to load the bases.

“Second bunt of my life,” Cook said.

Three batters later, Nelson whistled one past Shanahan to end another funky chapter in Matador lore, circa 1994.

“My eyes opened up a little bit (when the ball whizzed by),” Shanahan said. “Just another fun day at the yard.”