CSUN Defeats USIU, 15-2, to Sweep Series

Sundays, once the bane of the Cal State Northridge baseball team, became just another day at the diamond for the Matadors against U.S. International University on Sunday.

Sixteenth-ranked Northridge, which had won just two of seven games played on Sundays this season, solved the Sunday riddle against USIU, winning 15-2 to complete a three-game sweep of the Gulls at Matador Field.

It was the sixth consecutive victory for Northridge (28-10-1), which has outscored its opponents, 57-9, during the streak.

Northridge junior right-hander Ken Kendrena (7-1) took a two-hit shutout into the ninth inning before giving up back-to-back home runs to James Gibson and Ed Crabtree. Kendrena finished with a four-hitter, striking out seven. The Gulls (11-26) struck out 37 times during the three-game series.

Kendrena got plenty of support as the Matadors pounded out 16 hits--nine for extra bases--against three USIU pitchers.

Scott Sharts knocked in four runs, three with his 19th homer of the year in the Matadors’ five-run fourth inning. Scott Richardson, a surprise hitting in the cleanup spot, had three hits, including a three-run homer (his fourth) in the seventh to put Northridge ahead, 15-0. Kyle Washington also had three hits for CSUN, including a double.

The Matadors’ Craig Clayton continued his hitting pace with a triple and a double to give him eight hits in the series, and Greg Shockey added a pair of doubles. Mike Solar and Mike Sims each had two hits and two RBIs for Northridge.