Feb. 25, 2012

Box Score

Site: Northridge, Calif. (Matador Field)
Score: Cal State Northridge 8, Northwestern 7 (11 inn.)
Records: NU (1-4), Cal State Northridge (4-2)
Next NU Event: Sunday, Feb. 26 -- at Cal State Northridge, 3 p.m. CT

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Northwestern rallied back from five runs down to take a one-run lead into the ninth inning but couldn't hold on, falling 8-7 to Cal State Northridge 8-7 in 11 innings in the second game of a doubleheader.

Northwestern had opportunities to score in each of the first two innings, stranding two men in the first and a runner at third in the second.

The Matadors were able to surge in front in the home half of the second thanks to a two-out rally and a pair of Wildcat errors. Brandon Magallones retired the first two batters of the inning before Miles Williams hit an 0-2 mistake out of the park. An error on NU left a runner at second for Nate Ring who hit an RBI ground-rule double to make it 2-0. A throwing error would plate Ring to make it a three-run game.

Northwestern got a run back in the top of the third as Paul Snieder socked the Wildcats' first home run of the season to make it 3-1.

However, Cal State Northridge got solo tallies in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Magallones was replaced by Francis Brooke on the mound after the first two batters reached in the fifth. A bunt single loaded the bases, but Brooke was able to limit the damage to one run.

Staring at a five-run deficit, the Wildcats got it all back in the top of the sixth. A single by Zach Morton and a walk to Paul Snieder preceded Jack Havey ripping a three-run homer to get NU within 6-4. The next two batters were retired before Geoff Rowan singled up the middle. Pinch hitter Jack Livingston followed with a single to center and a fielding error allowed Rowan to race all the way around to score from first with Livingston winding up at third on the play.

Jordan Johnson then came on to replace Brandon Warner on the mound and got a third strike to Luke Dauch, but a wild pitch on the play allowed Dauch to reach first while Livingston came home to tie the game.

Cal State Northridge appeared primed to regain the lead in the bottom of the sixth as they had runners at the corners with no one out, but Rowan picked a runner off third and the Wildcats were able to work their way out of trouble.

Northwestern would take its first lead of the game in the eighth as Nick Linne hit a leadoff single, moved to second and scored on a double by Dauch to make it 7-6.

Kyle Ruchim came on to pitch a 1-2-3 eighth, but ran into trouble in the ninth as leadoff double, a sac bunt and an RBI single sent the game to extra innings.

Ruchim hit a two-out double in the top of the 10th but was left stranded. The Matadors got the winning run in the bottom of the 11th as a one-out walk followed by a single put runners at the corners before a single to center by Chester Pak ended it.

The teams conclude their three-game series with a contest at 3 p.m. Central time Sunday.

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