Miscues Put Matadors in Tough Spot

NORTHRIDGE â€”  Bashing its way through defensive lapses has been necessary all season for Cal State Northridge.

But six errors, a bad hop and an odd obstruction call were too much for even a team batting .341 to overcome in a 10-inning, 8-7 loss to USC on Saturday at Matador Field.

Northridge shortstop Adam Kennedy tied the school career home run record with a blast in the bottom of the ninth against Trojan closer Jack Krawczyk that tied the score, 7-7, but USC scored on a ground-rule double by Brad Ticehurst in the 10th.

Jeremy Sickles doubled with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but Adrian Mendoza struck out and Andy Wilson was thrown out by a half-step after first baseman Greg Walbridge made a diving stab of his ground ball and flipped to Krawczyk.

“We played with heart for 10 innings,� Northridge Coach Mike Batesole said. “Everybody laid it on the line for 10 innings. That’s what college baseball is all about.�

Northridge (41-19-1) faces the Trojans (38-18) again at 1 p.m. today at USC, then finishes the regular season at UCLA on Tuesday night. The Matadors probably must win both to gain an at-large NCAA tournament berth.

“It’s a very peculiar year as far as predicting what will happen, but anybody who has played Northridge would agree they belong in [the tournament],� USC Coach Mike Gillespie said.

Northridge, ranked 24th in the nation, defeated USC, 18-17, and lost, 8-7, earlier this season. It’s safe to say the teams are about even. USC, ranked 13th, is considered certain to make the tournament.

“I can’t remember playing three tougher games against one team,� Gillespie said. “Three absolute barn burners. Great ones when you win, and heartbreakers when you lose.�

Northridge players sat stunned after the final out of their final home game. They realized the errors, which led to five unearned runs, were their undoing.

“There were way too many mistakes,� second baseman Cesar Martinez said. “Defense wins tight games and they made good plays at the end. We didn’t.�

After two Northridge errors helped USC score three runs in the first, left-hander Benny Flores shut out the Trojans until the seventh, enabling the Matadors to claw back and take a 6-3 lead.

Facing Trojan left-hander Randy Flores, Jose Miranda drove in Terrmel Sledge with the first of his three singles, and Chris MacMillan drove in Kennedy to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the first.

Northridge added four runs in the fifth when Kennedy, Miranda, MacMillan and Martinez opened the inning with hits and scored. Flores, who holds the Trojan record for career victories, gave up 12 hits in six innings.

Marc Mirizzi doubled and scored on two groundouts in the seventh to pull USC within 6-4, setting the stage for an odd rally in the eighth.

Trojan third baseman Morgan Ensberg opened the inning with a hard ground ball to Kennedy that hit a rock and took a wicked hop over the shortstop’s head. Moments later, Ensberg was awarded second when the field umpire ruled that first baseman Mendoza obstructed the runner as he dove back to first on a pickoff attempt.

“I’ve never seen that called, ever,� Batesole said. “It turned out to be a major play in the game.�

With two out, pinch-hitter Jeff DePippo singled to score Ensberg. Flores caught DePippo leaning but when the runner broke for second, Mendoza threw the ball into center field, and DePippo advanced to third.

Wes Rachels singled up the middle to tie the score and chase Flores. Mirizzi promptly doubled against Erasmo Ramirez (10-5) to score Rachels with the go-ahead run.

Kennedy tied the record of 51 homers set by Scott Sharts in 1990-91 with a homer to left-center in the ninth, but that was all the damage the Matadors could do against Krawczyk (2-2).