Stanford Also Got No Favors

Only one team of 48 selected for the NCAA Division I baseball regionals has greater reason to gripe than Cal State Northridge, which inexplicably was seeded fifth in the six-team West Regional.

That team is Stanford, the Matadors’ first-round opponent tonight at 7 at Sunken Diamond.

The Cardinal (39-17), on a 16-game winning streak and ranked No. 7 in the nation, was not seeded No. 1 in the regional. Further, Stanford must open against Northridge (49-16), which has the most victories and second-highest winning percentage of any team in the regional.

“Everyone says we got a tough draw, but I think Stanford got the tough draw,” Northridge catcher Robert Fick said.

Stanford’s All-American catcher, A.J. Hinch, is batting .397 with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

“It’s only one game out of a whole season, but I am definitely looking forward to it,” said Fick, who leads the nation with 110 hits and is batting .420 with 24 home runs, 88 runs batted in and 20 stolen bases.

The good news for Northridge is that Stanford’s top-flight starters--Kyle Peterson (9-5, 3.69 earned-run average), Jeff Austin (6-3, 3.63) and Chad Hutchinson (7-1, 3.30)--are right-handed.

Several left-handed pitchers have beaten Northridge in recent weeks, giving fits to left-handed hitters Fick, Adam Kennedy (.379), Eric Gillespie (.361) and Jose Miranda (343).

Northridge isn’t saying if left-hander Erasmo Ramirez (13-1, 3.13) or right-hander Robert Crabtree (13-7, 3.90) will start.

In other first-round games, No. 1-seeded Florida State (47-15) will face No. 6-seeded Northeastern Illinois (31-27) at 11 a.m., and No. 3-seeded Mississippi State (37-22) will meet No. 4-seeded UC Santa Barbara (32-18) at 3 p.m.