CS Northridge Cuts Off Loyola Rally in Nick of Time, 5-4

On paper, it was supposed to be a rout.

The Cal State Northridge baseball team, ranked fifth in the nation, entered Tuesday’s nonconference game against Loyola Marymount averaging more than nine runs a game.

Loyola had a team earned-run average of 8.51 and had surrendered more than 10 runs 17 times this season, including 15 to the Matadors on March 20.

But Lion starter Jeff Cecchin performed better than expected and Northridge had to stifle a ninth-inning Loyola rally to win, 5-4. The victory was the 10th in a row for the Matadors (32-6).

Northridge led, 5-1, in the ninth but the Lions (12-26) scored three runs against Matador reliever Brandon Nickens.

Ed Conlan reached base on a fielder’s choice and Nickens issued back-to-back walks followed by consecutive run-scoring infield singles by Brett Campbell and Kevin Gustorf.

Ikaika Hoopii lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center field that scored John Cassanego and cut the Matador lead to one.

But Nickens, who pitched two innings and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks, got Curt Fiore to ground into a force play at second base to end the game with the tying run at third.

Cecchin (1-5) allowed four runs, three earned, in eight innings.

“We came out and played hard,” Matador Coach Mike Batesole said. “They just played better than they did last time.”

Nickens agreed.

“We’re not taking anybody lightly,” he said. “We know that any team can come out and beat anybody.”

Ryan Hurd, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, hit his fourth home run to lead off the ninth against reliever Paul Casillas and give Northridge a 5-1 lead.

The Matadors scored a run in the second and another in the third, then added two in the fourth when Adam Kennedy blasted a two-run home run over the fence in left-center field with two out. It was Kennedy’s 12th home run and increased his team-leading run batted in total to 50.

Matador starting pitcher Nathan Rice (2-1) allowed an unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings.

Rice, a junior left-hander, has not allowed a run in his last eight innings in posting two consecutive victories.

Juan Velazquez and Andrew Settle silenced the Lion bats over the next four innings, combining to allow one hit and one walk while striking out four.