The California State University, Northridge Matadors proved why they are among the elite teams in the Big West Conference, completing a three-game sweep of the Sacramento State?s baseball team this weekend at Matador Field.

The Matadors improved to 29-13 overall and 9-3 in Big West Conference games. Meanwhile, the Hornets fell to 15-22 overall and have yet to win a game in conference play (0-12).

In game 1, the Hornets relinquished a 4-3 lead going in to the bottom of the fifth inning en route to a 19-7 defeat. The Hornets were blitzed in sixth and seventh innings, giving up 15 runs in the two innings alone.

In addition to the offensive firepower that Northridge State exhibited, the Matadors were handed five errors and seven walks courtesy of the Hornets? pitching staff.

Northridge State created a narrow 1-0 lead over Sac State after the first inning, but watched the Hornets take it from them in the top of the fifth inning thanks to home runs from Matt Wilson and Tim Reimer, which gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead.

“Well, we honestly felt that we had a shot to win going into the bottom of the fifth inning,” Hornet coach John Smith said. “But I felt that if we continued to shoot ourselves in the foot by committing errors and walking batters, then I knew it would be difficult.”

To make matters worse, the Matadors scored 15 runs over two innings to make the score 14-5, ending any hope of Sac State pulling off the victory.

The Matadors concluded the game with six home runs and 18 hits, most of which occurred when the Matadors went on the 15-run tirade.

The Matadors further solidified the strangle hold that they had on the Hornets in Game 2, as they eked out a 6-4 win over Sac State, via a two-out, two-run home by senior second baseman Shaun Larkin in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Hornets led 4-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Northridge State?s John Voita initiated the ninth inning rally with a single. Jeff Gorman then ripped an RBI-double to right-center field to bring home the tying run, which set the tone for the final at bat.

With two outs and the game on the line, Larkin obliterated a belt-high fastball to straight away centerfield, lifting the Matadors to a 6-4 victory.

“What more can you ask for,” Smith said. “We had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth. You have to give them credit; when they needed to produce, they produced. All you can ask for is an opportunity to win. We had that and just couldn?t put it away.”

The Hornets came back from a three-run lead in the fourth inning to take the lead 4-3. Sophomore Chris Kinsey led the charge with his 13th home run of the season. Casey fuller also got in on the action with a mammoth blast.

Matador reliever Andy Davidson was tough as nails over the last four innings of the game, allowing no earned runs and just two hits.

Game 3 was almost a spitting image of the previous match, as Northridge State defeated the Hornets in similar fashion. The Matadors, again trailing in the late innings, somehow found a way to string together five runs in the eighth inning to break a 7-7 tie, giving the Matadors the 12-7 victory to complete the three-game sweep.

The Matadors broke the tie with a two-run double from Gorman, and then a two-run single from Jason Allec.

Northridge State, showing its propensity to score runs in flurries, jumped out with three runs in the first inning, only to be countered by Sac State?s three runs in the third. The Hornets then seized the 5-3 lead with two more runs in the fourth inning. A sacrifice fly by shortstop Bret LeVier then brought the lead to 6-3.

The Hornets never led again, and, as the Matadors had done all weekend, they scored runs when they had to.

Third baseman Pedro Santiago went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while first baseman Danny Gil produced two hits, including an RBI single and a home run.

The Hornets played host to Santa Clara University (which earlier defeated Sac State 7-5 on Feb. 26) Tuesday but results were not available by presstime. Sac State will take to the road tonight and face Stanford University at 6 p.m. before returning home to begin a three-game series versus California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo on Friday at Raley Field.

The Hornets and Mustangs will continue the series Saturday and Sunday at Hornet Field at 1 p.m.

Send comments, questions, or concerns to [email protected].

For questions or information regarding the site,please contact [email protected]