Washington State Ends Northridge Streak

It isn’t football. Basketball, either. Nobody finishes 59-0 with bats and balls.

The obvious was underscored after only a few innings of Cal State Northridge’s 10-2 nonconference loss to Washington State at Matador Field on Monday.

“Stuff like this is bound to happen sometimes,” freshman pitcher Erasmo Ramirez said. “Nobody goes undefeated.”

Northridge’s season-opening six-game winning streak was fun while it lasted, which was only an hour or so into the defeat.

Washington State (2-3) held Northridge to a season-low five hits. Ramirez (0-1) made his first start and gave up three earned runs in three innings. Three Matador relievers weren’t much more effective.

Washington State held a 9-1 lead after six innings, which essentially buried the warm and fuzzy feeling from last weekend, when Northridge swept a three-game series from Loyola Marymount.

“Right when you think you’re at your best, baseball kicks you in the teeth,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said.

Washington State starter Eric Estes, a senior right-hander, was unable to get much over the plate except a fastball, but Northridge couldn’t muster anything offensively. When Kernen saw Estes struggling with pitch selection, he salivated. Northridge (6-1) entered the game batting .329.

“I thought, ‘This’ll be ugly,’ ” Kernen said. “I would have lost a ton in Vegas on this one.”

Ken Cameron put the game away in the sixth with a three-run homer against reliever Aaron D’Aoust that gave the Cougars a 9-1 lead.

Northridge pitchers gave up a season-high 15 hits, seven for extra bases.

Trailing, 6-1, in the fifth, Northridge had runners at first and second when freshman Adam Kennedy grounded out against reliever Todd Belitz (1-0) to end the inning.

Trailing, 10-2, with two runners aboard in the seventh, freshman right-hander Kyle Poffenroth retired Kennedy and catcher Robert Fick to end the threat. Poffenroth pitched three scoreless innings to earn a save.