header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 25
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store


LOS ANGELES, CA—CSUN Baseball (21-8) completed the season series sweep of the UCLA Bruins (12-14) on Tuesday night with a 4-1 victory at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Albee Weiss finished 2-for-4 with a run batted in while Branden Berry went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Freshman right-hander Ray Diaz earned his first career victory while the CSUN pitching staff combined to limit UCLA to three hits.

With the win, CSUN secured its first season series sweep of the Bruins since 1998 and its first season series victory since the 2002 campaign.

“It’s nice to get a win,” said head coach Greg Moore. “I’m thinking about practice tomorrow. We need to show up ready to work. Getting a win shouldn’t, but it can, soften the approach. After a few losses, this group was close to practicing at a new level. What we do tomorrow as a team is what matters.”

In contrast to the first meeting between the two teams in March when CSUN posted a 20-12 win, both sides battled in a low scoring affair on Tuesday.

Andrew Weston started the contest and pitched two clean innings, surrendering no hits and just one walk. In the third, Diaz picked up right where Weston left off by tossing two scoreless innings of his own, fanning three batters and allowing no hits.

UCLA starter Jake Bird quieted the CSUN bats through three frames but the Matadors would finally break through against the right-hander in the middle innings.

In the fourth, CSUN recorded the game’s first run thanks to solid execution at the plate. Yusuke Akitoshi started the rally with a one-out single up the middle and he would steal second base on the very next pitch to get into scoring position. After Branden Berry sacrificed Akitoshi to third base, Justin Toerner came through with an RBI single to center.

An inning later, CSUN added another run on two hits to build a 2-0 edge. Nolan Bumstead led off the frame with a single and Dylan Alexander followed with a double off the top of the wall in left field. With both runners in scoring position, Bird delivered a wild pitch, allowing Bumstead to race home.

The Matadors kept up its hot hitting in the sixth inning against the UCLA pitching staff. With Bird still on the mound, Akitoshi walked to lead off the inning and Berry singled through the left side moments later. After the Bruins went to their bullpen, Weiss brought home the Matadors’ third run on the night with a single into left center field. Two batters later, Berry touched home plate on a passed ball that skated past Daniel Rosica’s glove.

Meanwhile, the Matador pitching staff continued to be outstanding on the mound. Following a shutout frame from Nick Viola in the fifth, the CSUN staff took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Samuel Myers entered the fray in the bottom of the sixth and gave up the first hit of the day to Brett Stephens, but he rallied to retire two of the next three to preserve the 4-0 lead.

Myers pitched around a two-out walk in the seventh to post another scoreless inning but the Bruins finally broke up the shutout an inning later. Brett Urabe doubled and later scored on an Eric Filia sacrifice fly to trim the CSUN advantage to 4-1.

Closer Conner O’Neil got the final out in the eighth inning and returned back out to attempt a four-out save in the last of the ninth. Luke Persico drew a walk to start off the frame but O’Neil snuffed out the rally by forcing Christoph Bono to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. After a two-out walk kept the inning alive, O’Neil struck out pinch hitter Jake Pries to end the game.

Berry continued his streak of reaching base safely on Tuesday with his two hits. The senior has now reached in each of the last 21 games.

“It was a staff day. The bullpen did a nice job,” added Moore. “Ray Diaz pounded the zone early. That set the tempo for the rest of the day. Nick Viola is getting better each time out in relief. Andrew Weston started the game and threw strikes. It took everyone.”

The Matadors resume its Big West Conference schedule with a three-game home series against Long Beach State beginning Friday afternoon at Matador Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
Thursday, Apr 18, 2024
The Master's University men's golf team shot a 13-under 275 to finish second at the Golden State Athletic Conference Men's Golf Championships held at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West, Ariz.
Thursday, Apr 18, 2024
College of the Canyons made quick work of visiting L.A. Valley College in a shortened 11-3 home victory that came on a day in which the program unveiled its newly named Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room during a pre-game dedication ceremony.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Starting Monday, April 29, construction on the South Fork Trail will begin to replace a portion of the lodgepole fencing, the city of Santa Clarita announced.
South Fork Trail Construction to Begin April 29
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
COC Standout Sam Regez Signs with University of Portland
An entertainment industry initiative to support the voices of California State University, Northridge film and TV students was celebrated with a recent screening of stories they created. 
‘Changing Lenses’ Initiative Lends Voice to CSUN Film, TV Students
How important is Film and Tourism to the Santa Clarita Valley Economy? 
SCVEDC Delves into Santa Clarita Film, Tourism Impact
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
TMU Women’s Basketball Coach to Resign
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well.
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
COC Names Gigi Garcia, Hannes Yngve Athletes of the Week
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
Santa Clarita resident Edina Lemus has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California in Lancaster by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom Appoints SCV Resident Veterans Home Administrator
The California Department of Transportation has scheduled Lane Closures on the northbound and southbound State Route 14 between Technology Drive in Palmdale and Avenue A in Lancaster, closing up to three lanes.
Caltrans Announces SR-14 Lane Closures
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond testified today in the Senate Education Committee about the need for results-proven training for all teachers of reading and math.
State Superintendent Makes Historic Push for Results-Proven Training in Literacy, Math as Sponsor of SB 1115
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
Ocean Water Warning for April 24
Dust off the boots and get ready to holler, because Boots In The Park making its way to back to Santa Clarita, y’all. 
May 10: Boots In the Park Returns to Santa Clarita
State Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) and Supervisor Kathryn Barger honor the memory of those lost 109 years ago in Armenian Genocide. 
Barger, Wilk Recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Valley Corps is excited to announce the inaugural Donut Day event.
June 7: Salvation Army SCV Announces Inaugural Donut Day Event
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation has approved $370,000 in funding to support the Vet@ThePark program operated by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
LAC Animal Care Foundation Provides $370K Grant to Support Vet@ThePark
The California Department of Public Health is encouraging Californians to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27.
CDPH Urges Californians to Support Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath, proclaiming May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Los Angeles County.
Supes Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month
The Grammy-award winning rock ‘n’ roll group Blues Traveler will take the stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. May 9. 
May 9: Blues Traveler to Perform at PAC
1962 - SCV residents vote to connect to State Water Project, creating Castaic Lake Water Agency (now part of SCV Water) [story]
Castaic Lake
Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement in support of the Los Angeles County Chief Executive Officer’s presentation of a $45.4 billion budget for the forthcoming 2024-25 fiscal year.
Kathryn Barger | Statement in Support of $45.4B County Budget
SCVNews.com