Vatcher Hits 2 Homers in CSUN Win

Cal State Northridge won a game in spite of itself Tuesday, courtesy of a 5-9 power hitter and a relief pitcher with an earned-run average of almost a run an inning.

Jim Vatcher, whose bat packs a deceiving wallop, slugged two home runs and threw out a runner at third base, and Robert Wheatcroft snuffed out a rally to pick up a victory in his first outing in more than two weeks as Northridge defeated Cal Poly Pomona, 7-6, in 11 innings at Matador Field.

Northridge (10-6) and Pomona (9-5) are tied for second in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. standings, 1 1/2 games behind first-place Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-5). And, in an individual race, the 160-pound Vatcher pulled even with Lenn Gilmore and 6-3, 200-pound John Balfanz, CSUN’s all-time home-run leader, for the team lead in home runs with 10. Gilmore hit his 10th in the first inning as the Matadors took a 1-0 lead.

Vatcher’s second home run Tuesday was significant not only because it pushed him into double figures for the season but also because it brought the Matadors from behind to tie the score, 6-6, with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

His biggest contribution--at least from Wheatcroft’s standpoint--was yet to come.

In the top of the 10th inning, Pomona’s first two batters--Dave Hajek and Mike Gorman--reached base safely before Brian Grier lofted a long fly ball to center field. Hajek, a fleet second baseman, tagged on the play and tried to take third base, but Vatcher cut him down with a perfect throw to Tim Rapp.

Wheatcroft, who entered the game in relief of John LaRosa after Gorman’s single, said he was standing on the mound silently urging Hajek to test Vatcher’s arm.

“That was a fly ball to the right guy,” he said. “He’s got a great arm. I was begging for that guy on second to try and go. That took them right out of the inning.”

The play became more significant when Tom Lorenz followed the double play with a single that probably would have scored Hajek whether he had been standing at second or third. From there Wheatcroft, he of the 8.11 ERA (27.00 in CCAA games), did the rest.

He struck out Miccal Jackson to end the 10th and retired three of the four batters in the following inning to pick up his second win of the season.

“I thought we were going to bomb him, but it isn’t what you think, it’s what you do,” said Pomona’s John Scolinos, who has learned not to mince words in his 40 years as a college coach. “The guy came in and shut us down.”

Northridge could have used the relief work earlier. The Matadors led, 5-2, after eight innings, but Pomona scored four times in the top of the ninth off CSUN starter Jeremy Hernandez.