Batesole Benches Four Starters, Matadors Win

A seven-run fifth inning and the relief pitching of Jeff Martin spearheaded Cal State Northridge’s 13-5 victory over Northwestern on Friday in the Rawlings Spring Training Tournament in Phoenix.

Northridge (10-7) won without the services of shortstop Nakia Hill and the team’s only three returning starters--Adrian Mendoza, Jeremy Sickles and Chris MacMillan. All were benched by Coach Mike Batesole because of poor play in a loss to Grand Canyon on Thursday.

Martin (2-0) entered the game with two out and two on in the second inning, pitched out of the jam and allowed only three runs the rest of the way, striking out seven.

The Matadors snapped a 2-2 tie in the fifth with a rally started by a single from Kevin Fujimoto, a pitcher who played third base and went two for four with two runs.

Jeff Elorduy doubled, singled and drove in four runs, Marco Estrada had three hits, three runs and two runs batted in, and Kevin Patrick had three hits, including a double.

In another game:

Occidental 12, Cal Lutheran 8--Cal Lutheran pitchers issued 12 walks, including six in a six-run fifth inning, and the Kingsmen blew a 5-1 lead in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Cal Lutheran. The victory was the Tigers’ first over the Kingsmen (3-2, 3-1) in 24 games and was Occidental’s first victory at Cal Lutheran since 1973.

After striking out seven and walking one through four innings, Rich Igou (1-1) issued five walks in the fifth.

Donny Churchman homered, doubled and singled for Cal Lutheran.