Northridge Negotiating Rough Road

The puzzle pieces Coach Mike Batesole so adeptly assembled into an overachieving season for Cal State Northridge in 1998 haven’t fallen into place this year.

Northridge, struggling through a three-week road trip, begins a three-game series today through Sunday at Cal State Sacramento and is not scheduled to play at home again until April 3 against USC.

The Matadors (19-18) have lost four in a row--their final four games in the Texas A&M; tournament--and have won only two of their last seven games, both in Texas.

Last year, Northridge caught fire down the stretch, winning 25 of its final 27 games to finish 37-19. Batesole was selected national co-coach of the year by Collegiate Baseball, capping a remarkable season that began with Northridge’s baseball future shrouded in uncertainty.

This season, injuries and inexperience have forced Batesole to shuffle his defensive lineup. Pitching, aside from the performance of right-hander Jim DeBiase, has been inconsistent.

Nothing surrounding the Matadors’ recent play would suggest another season-ending surge. Even Batesole, who has 150 victories in four years and is only the second Northridge coach to post consecutive 40-victory seasons, is hard-pressed to find a sign.

“If I knew how to do that again, I’d plug that in every year,” Batesole said. “It was just one of those things.”

So, too, perhaps is the Matadors’ current slump. Still, Batesole said he is more surprised that his team is even afloat, considering its 11th-hour resurrection after being dropped by the university following the 1997 season.

Baseball was among four sports eliminated, then abruptly reinstated by the university. That left Batesole to pick up the pieces with a roster composed largely of transfers, and lingering questions about the program’s future.

“When you’re starting up a program, they usually give you a year,” Batesole said. “Let’s face it, we took two weeks.”

Yet the Matadors, like the university in the wake of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, rebounded from devastation and developed a reputation for being scrappy.

“Right now, for us to have our heads above water and be over .500 is a stinking miracle,” Batesole said. “The whole year, we’ve had three or four guys playing out of position. We’re trying all kinds of things. But while we’re playing, the nine [players] in there are trying to win. I think they feel pretty good about it.”

Center fielder Jason Watkins, hampered by a preseason hand injury, has played shortstop and second base. Outfielder Danny Phillips, who leads Northridge with 13 home runs and 48 runs batted in, is playing third base. Left fielder Matt Synhorst is a converted center fielder.

“Every time we win a Division I game, it’s a surprise,” Batesole said.

Northridge defeated Michigan, 7-4, and Nevada Las Vegas, 5-3, in Texas before scoring only two runs in consecutive losses to Texas A&M;, UNLV and Michigan.

The Matadors traveled to Texas without leadoff hitter Synhorst, who leads the team with a .368 batting average and 10 doubles. He took leave because of the death of his grandfather. Synhorst is expected to rejoin the team in Sacramento.

Adrian Mendoza had two home runs, drove in six runs and was selected to the all-tournament team.

DeBiase (6-2), who was charged with the loss Sunday in a 3-1 Michigan victory, has emerged as the staff’s ace.

The former Chatsworth High standout allowed four hits and two earned runs against Michigan. He leads Northridge in victories and strikeouts, with 51 in 60 2/3 innings.

DeBiase has allowed only seven hits in his last two starts. He is scheduled to pitch Sunday.

Left-hander Andy Davidson (1-1), a freshman from Hart High, is scheduled to start today. Right-hander Trevor Gray (4-0), who leads the staff with a 3.13 earned-run average, is scheduled to start Saturday.

Sacramento (9-18) has lost eight games in a row. Northridge plays at USC on Thursday, the first of a three-game series.