Pepperdine’s Veterans Give Northridge Lesson

What began as a showcase of freshmen pitchers turned on experience.

A grand slam by senior Jeremy White gave Pepperdine a lead and two throws by catcher Dane Sardinha, a junior All-American, emerged as key plays.

Cal State Northridge, fueled by three home runs, threatened but fell, 8-7, Tuesday at Pepperdine.

Sardinha made sure of the outcome.

With Northridge leading, 2-1, Matador catcher Jason Allec led off the fifth inning with a walk and Eric Horvat followed with a bunt. Sardinha pounced on the ball and made what would have been a poor decision for most catchers: He threw to second even though Allec was only a couple of steps from the bag.

A strong arm is one reason scouts project Sardinha as an early first-round pick in June. The throw beat Allec by a whisker and shortstop Tony Garcia fired to first to complete a double play.

The throw’s importance grew when J.T. Stotts followed with a walk and Jason Watkins homered, extending the Northridge lead to 4-1 and chasing right-hander Greg Ramirez, a freshman from Rio Mesa High making his first start.

Pepperdine (1-2) rallied in the bottom of the inning, finally getting to right-hander Ivan Hernandez, a freshman from Sylmar High making his first appearance. Hernandez allowed three hits in the first four innings and was hurt only on a solo home run by Duke Sardinha--Dane’s freshman brother.

Hernandez walked Garcia with one out, bringing up the top of the Pepperdine lineup. Austin Evans singled to left and Woody Cliffords drove in Garcia with a single up the middle.

Hernandez struck out Duke Sardinha looking with a curveball on the inside corner but walked Dane Sardinha on a full count to load the bases. Batesole stayed with Hernandez and White homered to left for a 6-4 Pepperdine lead.

“Ivan has an excellent breaking ball and running fastball,” Northridge Coach Mike Batesole said. “He showed a lot of poise. Now he needs to learn a third pitch.”

Freshman Tim Coltey homered to lead off the Northridge sixth, but Pepperdine again countered in the bottom of the inning.

Right fielder Mike Falco, a freshman from Agoura High, singled to left for his first college hit and stole second. Damon Katz singled and a balk by left-handed reliever Andy Davidson (0-1) sent Falco home and Katz to second. Evans blooped a single to right to score Katz for an 8-5 lead.

Northridge (1-3) battled back with a run in the eighth on singles by Tim Arroyo, Coltey and Eric Horvat and a run in the ninth on a one-out home run by Adrian Mendoza, who was four for four.

Jason Gorman followed Mendoza’s blast with a walk and left-hander Stephen Correa replaced Matt Wersel (1-0) to face the left-handed hitting Arroyo.

Once again, enter Dane Sardinha.

Gorman took off for second on a full-count pitch that Arroyo swung through and Sardinha threw him out by three steps to end the game.

“Until recently, Correa was very slow to the plate,” Pepperdine Coach Frank Sanchez said. “He’s quickened up his release, which gave Dane a chance to throw out the runner.”

And Sardinha capitalizes on his opportunities.