CS Northridge Survives 7 Home Runs by UCSB in 22-17 Victory : College baseball: Matadors pound out 18 hits and produce season-high run total in nonconference game.

It looked as if Cal State Northridge would come out on the short end of another nonconference blowout Tuesday after UC Santa Barbara scored four runs in the first inning against starter Evan Howland.

But with the wind blowing out at Matador Field, Northridge pulled even on a three-run homer by right fielder Greg Shepard in the second inning and prevailed, 22-17, in a 3 1/2-hour slugfest.

Northridge (23-11) pounded out 18 hits and drew eight walks in scoring a season-high run total against seven pitchers.

Along with his sixth home run, Shepard singled twice and reached base on an error and a fielder’s choice, scored four runs and drove in five.

“This is the way I figure nonconference games should be, like boat races, the way the pitching is,” Shepard said. “I’m happy.”

First baseman Jason Shanahan also was smiling after going four for six with five runs batted in, ending a two-for-22 slump.

“I just tried to keep the faith in myself,” Shanahan said. “I kept telling myself it would not last forever.”

After Shepard’s home run tied it, 5-5, Northridge took an 11-5 lead with a six-run third inning.

Santa Barbara (15-20-1) hit seven home runs, six off Howland, who retained a sense of humor.

“No comment, no comment, no comment,” Howland said jokingly to three reporters.

After attributing the home-run barrage to “stupidity,” i.e., leaving curveballs up in the strike zone, Howland (2-4) was asked how he maintained his confidence.

“It is baseball,” said Howland, who turned 19 Tuesday. “What do you do? Dig yourself a hole and put yourself in it?”

Considering the wind, Coach Bill Kernen said Howland’s performance was not as poor as the numbers (10 earned runs, 11 hits in six innings) indicate. “We can identify the mistakes he’s making,” Kernen said. “That’s a lot better than not even knowing where to start.”

The game was not good for former El Camino Real High pitchers: Howland and Pat Treend, the UCSB starter, gave up 18 runs between them.

Reliever Johnny Najar held the Gauchos scoreless in the seventh and eighth, but in an effort to save Najar for games this weekend, Kernen replaced him with Jason Van Heerde to begin the ninth with Northridge leading, 22-10. Van Heerde gave up seven runs and five hits, including a grand slam.

With one out, Shanahan moved from first base to replace Van Heerde. He struck out two to end it.

With 16 extra-base hits between them, Northridge and UCSB broke by one the Northridge school record for two teams. The teams’ combined RBI total of 35 eclipsed the record of 33 in a Northridge game and the seven home runs allowed by the Matadors tied the school record set last May against eventual national champion Pepperdine.