Northridge Hits Softly in 7-3 Win

Cal State Northridge has been knocking out pitchers and knocking off opponents this season with an offense driven by the home run.

The Matadors have hit 40 homers and given up just 21.

Friday at Cal Poly Pomona, Northridge demonstrated that it could function well during a power outage. The Matadors collected 13 hits--all singles--but still pushed across enough runs for a 7-3 victory over the beleaguered Broncos in a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game.

The victory, Northridge’s 12th in its past 15 games, improved the Matadors’ record to 22-13 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

Pomona, which has lost all four games against Northridge this season, dropped to 9-26 and 3-12.

Right-hander Craig Clayton picked up the win, improving to 8-3 with his fourth complete game. The sophomore gave up two first-inning runs and another in the eighth. He allowed 10 hits, struck out five and walked four. Clayton also had two hits and two runs batted in.

“I didn’t really get comfortable until the fifth inning,” said Clayton, who had not thrown off a mound for eight days to give his arm a rest. “We’re not hitting with power like we were, but we’re playing the little game well.”

Mike Solar led Northridge with three hits and an RBI and Eric Johnson and Scott Richardson each had two hits and drove in a run for the Matadors.

Richardson, in particular, continues to play a key role for the Matadors. The freshman second baseman had a bunt single, stole a base and also made an outstanding defensive play on a day the entire Northridge team executed well.

Northridge was never really threatened after taking the lead with a three-run third inning.

Pomona scored its first run when Dan Andrews singled, moved to second on a hit by Ramiro Garcia, got to third on a fielder’s choice and came home on a wild pitch. The Broncos scored their second run on a single by Jason Keeline that scored Scott Daniels.

Northridge rallied in the third when Pomona pitcher Bret Lachemann (2-6) surrendered consecutive singles to Clayton and Greg Shockey in the third, then walked Scott Sharts to load the bases. Denny Vigo singled to drive in the Matadors’ first run, Richardson followed with a ground out to third that scored another and Johnson’s ground out to short brought home the third run of the inning.

The Matadors increased their lead to 4-2 in the fourth when Kyle Washington scored from third on Shockey’s sacrifice fly to center field. Washington walked, moved to second on an error by third baseman Grant Stephens and advanced to third on a fielder’s choice.

Clayton gave himself a 6-2 lead in the fifth when he singled home Johnson and Solar, both of whom had singled.

The Matadors added their final run in the seventh on Solar’s single that scored Richardson from second base.

Pomona completed the scoring in the eighth when Neil Weingarten doubled to score Steve Keelin, who had reached on an error by Solar.