In the third inning of the first game, after a leadoff single by Brad Decater, Ridge Carpenter hit his first home run of the season to give the Matadors a 2-0 lead. Seattle University answered in the bottom of the third, as singles by Phil Parrish (Escalon, Calif.) and Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) followed by a balk put runners on second and third. Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.) came through with a single to right field that scored both runners and tied the game, 2-2.
Nate Ring hit a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning, and the Matadors pulled away in the fifth on a grand slam home run by Justin DeMarco. Cal State Northridge scored three more runs in the top of the sixth inning, but SeattleU fought back in the bottom of the sixth, as Kalalau and Narby led off with singles and Riley Tompkins (Lynnwood, Wash.) followed with a double to center field that scored Kalalau. Consecutive groundouts scored two more runs for the Redhawks, but Trevor Fredrickson was able to close out the game for the Matadors.
Paul Tremlin earned the victory for Cal State Northridge, pitching five innings and allowing seven hits and five runs. Arlo Evasick (Port Ludlow, Wash.) took the loss for SeattleU, giving up six hits and seven runs in five innings of work. Evan Ewing (Spokane, Wash.) made his first appearance of the season, allowing two hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
In the second game, Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) got things going for the Redhawks in the first inning with a double to center field. Narby was hit by a pitch and Kalalau notched an infield single to load the bases, and Tompkins drove in two runs with a single through the right side. Cal State Northridge scored a single run in the top of the second, but SeattleU answered in the third inning as Narby singled to left field, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single up the middle by Tompkins.
Ryan Pineda's leadoff home run in the sixth inning brought the Matadors within one at 3-2. In the seventh inning, after Cody Goodfellow (Tacoma, Wash.) replaced starter Conor Spink (Eagle River, Alaska), Ring sent a shot down the left field line that hit the third-base bag for a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by TS Reed to tie the game.
Drew Muren led off the eighth inning with a walk and Dominic D'Anna followed with a blast to right field, his fourth home run of the season. Ring would score another run in the ninth inning to extend the Matadors' lead to 6-3, and with closer Jimmy Jolicouer coming on to pitch, Cal State Northridge felt comfortable that the sweep was guaranteed.
SeattleU would not give up, as with two outs Doug Buser (Orinda, Calif.) singled and scored on a double by Mike Malland (Mukilteo, Wash.). Jolicouer settled down and ended the game on a strikeout for his third save of the season. Matador starter Shawn Wilyman earned his first win of the season after giving up just one hit in the final four innings of work.
Spink put forth a solid effort for SeattleU, allowing just six hits, two walks, and two runs in six innings of work. Goodfellow took the loss, allowing three hits, two walks, and four runs in 2 1/3 innings of action. For the doubleheader, Buser, Narby, Kalalau, and Tompkins each earned three hits in the two games, with Tompkins driving in four runs during the day and Narby scoring three times in the two games.
Seattle University (3-14) hopes to pick up one victory to end the weekend as it hosts Cal State Northridge in the final game of the series Sunday, March 21, at 11 a.m. at Bannerwood Park. Live audio with Dan Giuliani and Drew Samuelson is available on GoSeattleU.com along with live stats.