Reports From LBSU

After allowing a solo home run to his first batter in the first inning, Andrew Gagnon delivered one of his best appearances of the year, giving up just one more hit over nine innings of work, but an unearned run sent the game to extra innings, and Cal State Northridge prevailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th.

Gagnon struck out six and allowed just two hits while pitching nine innings, but a solo home run in the first inning gave Cal State Northridge a 1-0 lead. The Dirtbags, however, had similar problems against Billy Ott, who despite allowing nine hits only gave up a pair of runs over 7.2 innings pitched.

The Matadors added a second run in the seventh inning after two Dirtbag errors allowed Ryan Pineda to score, including a failed run-down between third base and home that allowed the Matador to cross the plate.

Kellen Hoime, who had a pair of hits on the day, reached base after a single to lead off the eighth, andBrennan Metzger hit his second home run of the season in the next at-bat to tie the game at 2-2.

Gagnon worked through a major jam in the ninth, getting Alex Muren to pop up with two outs in the inning and the bases loaded to send the game to extra innings.

The Dirtbags saw the leadoff runner reach in both frames of extra innings, but after advancing them to second with a bunt, the team was unable to push the runners around to score.

In the bottom of the 11th, the Matadors started the inning with back-to-back hits, and after a walk with one out, Muren came up with the bases loaded for a second time. However, he would leave the hero in that appearance as Jonathan Jones caught a ball just left of the foul line in left field and was unable to throw Chris Allen out at the plate to send the game to the 12th.

The series continues tomorrow with a 1 p.m. start.