Matadors Get Help From Old and New

There are a handful of days during a long college baseball season when a team sparkles on the diamond, well, like a diamond.

Everyone contributes. Veterans step up. Freshmen make their mark.

Cal State Northridge enjoyed one of those days Saturday at Pepperdine, blasting the Waves, 13-3, behind a 20-hit attack and the excellent pitching of left-hander Nathan Rice.

“This is a great way to end the week,” Coach Mike Batesole said. “We got all our jobs done today.”

The Waves (2-8), meanwhile, are seeking any semblance of sparkle as they lurch through a brutal nonconference schedule that refuses to let up: They play three games against Cal State Fullerton next weekend, followed by a game at USC.

“Playing good teams will make us a better team,” Wave outfielder Josh Oder said. “We need a couple of wins, though. Too many guys are pressing.”

The game was scoreless until the fourth when Northridge (9-3-1) exploded for seven runs with two out. The Matadors extended the lead to 9-1 in the fifth and 10-1 in the sixth, enabling Batesole to empty his bench.

Veterans who have been carrying the team continued to produce: Adam Kennedy and Andy Wilson each had three hits, Jose Miranda had two, and Cesar Martinez homered.

Four freshmen in the starting lineup made the most of their playing time: First baseman Adrian Mendoza had four hits and three runs batted in. Third baseman Jason Gause singled twice. Designated hitter Matt Pitstick and left fielder Terrmel Sledge each had a hit.

And Rice (1-0), a senior hampered by a rib cage injury for two weeks, allowed one earned run in 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven, walking one and allowing six hits.

“During his layoff, he stayed mentally sharp and worked on his mechanics,” pitching coach Tim Montez said. “That’s why he came out sharp today.”

Sophomore Andrew Shibilo (1-2), tabbed by Baseball America as one of the top 100 pro prospects among college players, breezed until giving up five hits in a row with two out in the fourth.

Miranda singled and stole second with one out, Martinez walked and, with two out, the hit parade began. Gause singled to score Miranda, Mendoza singled to score Martinez, Brian Wagner singled to score Gause, Wilson singled to score Mendoza, and Sledge doubled to score Wagner and Wilson.

Eric Brubaker replaced Shibilo and was greeted with a run-scoring double by Kennedy, who was thrown out rounding second base too aggressively.

Pepperdine squeaked out a run in the bottom of the inning on a bunt single by Rob Reid, a bloop single by David Matranga and an infield single by Steve Zorn, but Northridge answered quickly.

Martinez homered with one out in the fifth and consecutive singles by Pitstick, Gause and Mendoza scored another run.

What began as a season of sitting and learning is quickly developing into one of production. Gause is seven for 13, Mendoza is six for 12 and Pitstick, also of Royal High, is four for 15.

“They’ve all found a way to stay ready, even though it’s tough when there are only so many swings to go around,” Batesole said. “They will get their chances. You get what you deserve.”

After getting a season-high 12 hits in a 7-4 loss to Northridge on Friday, Pepperdine managed only seven singles. Zorn had two hits and three RBIs, and third baseman Tyler Ferrer had two hits.