March 12, 2010

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (3-9) allowed six runs in the fourth inning en route to dropping a 12-5 decision to Cal State Northridge (7-5) on Friday in the first game of a three-game series at LMU's Page Stadium.

Sophomore Ryan Hawthorne was stellar at the plate for LMU, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, a run scored and two RBI. Freshman Colton Plaia and junior Jason Barmasse also collected multiple hits, with Plaia batting 2-for-4. Barmasse went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a walk. Sophomore Matt Koch continued to drive in runs, collecting three RBI, including a pair on his second home run of this season in the eighth inning. Jonathan Johnson wasted no time extending his hitting streak to 11 games, tripling to start the bottom of the first inning. Johnson has now tripled in three consecutive games and owns four this year. With seven last season, the native of Lakewood, Calif. has now collected 11 career triples, tying for sixth in the LMU all-time record book. Johnson has hit .435 (20-for-46) with 11 runs scored, four doubles, four triples, a home run, two walks, three stolen bases and five RBI over his 11-game hitting streak.

Sophomore Martin Viramontes was roughed-up a bit on Friday as LMU's starter, lasting three and two-thirds innings and allowing seven runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out three. With the loss, he fell to 0-3 on the season. LMU used four relievers on Friday, including senior Jordan McClintick who contributed an inning and a third scoreless. Freshmen Aaron Griffin and John Tewhill combined to pitch three innings, with Griffin allowing two runs in one frame and Tewhill three runs over two.

Ryan Juarez pitched seven and two-thirds as CSUN's starter, allowing five runs on nine hits and a walk while punching-out eight. The right-hander, who improved to 1-1 with the victory, gave way to Bryan Longpre for the final inning and a third scoreless. Ridge Carpenter, Drew Muren, Dominic D'Anna, Marty Bowen and TS Reed each collected a pair of hits in the victory for Northridge. Carpenter, Muren and Pineda each scored twice, while D'Anna and Reed each drove in a pair.

Cal State Northridge got the scoring started in the top of the first inning before LMU answered with a run of its own in the home-half of the frame. CSUN leadoff man Carpenter won a seven-pitch at bat with a double off Mikos Blue Monster in left field to open the frame. Muren wasted no time plating the run, singling into left field on the ensuing play. Johnson got the LMU first off to a strong start, tripling on the third pitch of his at bat to set the table for a Hawthorne single up the middle.

The Lions took a one-run advantage at 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the third. Barmasse collected a one-out single before moving to third on a hit-and-run single from Hawthorne. Koch followed with what looked like a foul ball off of his leg that trickled out toward third base, but the ball was ruled fair, and Koch was thrown out at first. LMU did plate a run on the play, as Barmasse alertly hustled home from third base despite some confusion on the field.

CSUN loaded the bases with nobody out en route to scoring six runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-2 lead. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases and put Viramontes in trouble before the Lions received a ground ball to third base that resulted in an out without trading a run. LMU nearly got out of the inning without any damage done as Viramontes induced a ground ball to second base. LMU got the lead runner, but the turn was just a half-second too late at first base, allowing the first run to score. Muren followed with a hit-by-pitch to load the bases once again. Northridge benefited from a costly error on the ensuing play as Shon Roe had a ball kick off his glove and into shallow centerfield, allowing all three runs to score. A D'Anna double plated the next run before Bowen lined a RBI-single into right field to cap the frame and call an end to Viramontes' day on the mound.

The Matadors added two more runs on two hits in the sixth inning to push the tally to 9-2. Muren doubled and stole third before coming around to score on a D'Anna ground ball to first base. The Lions nearly threw Muren out at home on the play, but Koch dropped the ball while applying the tag at the plate. Bowen contributed his second hit of the game to put runners at the corners before DeMarco lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to push home the ninth CSUN run.

The Lions cut the deficit to four runs with three in the bottom of the eighth, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Koch. A two-out Barmasse double kept the inning alive for Hawthorne, who promptly collected his fourth hit of the day with a RBI-double into right centerfield. After falling behind 0-2 in the at bat, Koch blasted a hanging breaking-ball over the wall in left centerfield to cap the frame. Plaia collected his second hit of the day on the ensuing play, but LMU could not muster any further offense in the frame.

Refusing to surrender any momentum, CSUN posted three more runs in the top of the ninth inning to take the 12-5 victory. Reed highlighted the inning by contributing a two-RBI single into centerfield. Pineda also collected a RBI in the frame, singling through the left side to end the scoring.

LMU and Cal State Northridge will continue their three-game series tomorrow with a game at 1 p.m. in Page Stadium.