Northridge’s Kendrena Finally Gets Best of Aztecs

SAN DIEGO —  Cal State Northridge’s Ken Kendrena wasn’t nearly as sharp as he has been. But after CSUN’s 13-inning, 10-9 loss to San Diego Friday night, Kendrena wasn’t looking for a masterpiece.

A victory would do just fine. And that’s what he got Saturday night, giving up 10 hits and striking out six--a 6-2 victory over SDSU in a nonconference game at Smith Field.

CSUN catcher Mike Sims gave Kendrena (8-1) the breathing room he needed with a bases-loaded double in the third that gave the Matadors a 5-0 lead.

The victory gives the 14th-ranked Matadors their 30 victory of the season against 11 losses. SDSU drops to 28-10.

Kendrena, a junior right-hander, said his performance didn’t resemble his seven-strikeout, four-hitter against U.S. International Sunday, but he made enough good pitches at crucial times to be effective. He also was around the plate--walking only two.

“About the third or fourth inning, I realized it wasn’t going to be like my last couple of games, where I’ve just flown through,” Kendrena said. “I realized I was going to have to fight it.

“This kind of game shows you what kind of guy you really are. The real good pitchers will get through these kind of games. I don’t think I had the velocity I usually do, but I was able to hit my spots with the fastball.”

Kendrena allowed at least one hit in the first six innings, but SDSU could only score single runs off him in the fourth and fifth.

In the fourth, the Aztecs had three hits and could have scored more than one run. But with one out, Kendrena picked Jason Ledford off on a fake-to-third, throw-to-first play.

Marcelino Garcia, who was on third, eventually scored when CSUN shortstop Mike Solar booted Tony Robertson’s grounder. SDSU’s Steve Boucher followed with a single to right, which probably would have scored Ledford.

The Aztecs ran themselves out of the fifth, too. Scott Dennison drilled a leadoff single to right, but he was caught trying to steal second. After Derek Vinyard lined out to third, Bill Dunckel and Garcia followed with singles. Dunckel eventually scored the Aztecs second run on a wild pitch, but it could have been worse.

“I had to use my pickoff moves today,” Kendrena said. “I needed all my tools.”

Said Dietz: “Our running game got us in trouble. We just weren’t making the right reads.”

Aztec starter Rick Navarro was roughed up for the second time in four days.

He lasted just two-plus innings--allowing five earned runs and seven hits. He was also having a hard time finding the plate--walking one and hitting two batters.

“He’s been what I call soft,” SDSU Coach Jim Dietz said. “He’s trying to pitch defensively.”

Tuesday against Utah, Navarro (4-4) started and surrendered five earned runs in one inning.

Friday night’s starter Brian Holliday was just as ineffective as Navarro. He was shelled for six runs on six hits in only 2 1/3 innings. Dietz said he’s past the point of being concerned about his starting pitching.

“All our starting pitchers have had rough outings this year,” said Dietz.