Box Score CSUN 16, Nevada 1
Friday, March 1, 2024
Northridge, Calif. - Matador Field

WP: Ryan Halamicek (2-1)
LP: Easton Marks (1-1)

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Nevada's offense was held to just six hits and one run, and CSUN took an early lead it would not relinquish en route to capturing the series with a 16-1 victory Friday.

The Wolf Pack (4-5), now on a four-game skid, opened Friday's game brightly, but missed a prime opportunity to put the Matadors in a big hole.

Jesse Pierce singled and Justin Acal doubled to open the top of the first, putting Pack runners on second and third. Pierce came across on Nolan Wilson's grounder to short, and Bryce Matthews walked to put runners on the corners. But CSUN starter Ryan Halamicek worked out of the jam, getting an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Derek Tenney.

The Matadors (8-2) wasted little time taking control in its half of the first. CSUN loaded the bases and had a 3-1 lead against Pack starter Easton Marks before the first out of the frame. Ben Griffen drew a bases-loaded walk from the cleanup spot to tie the game, and Nathan Barraza's two-run single put CSUN up for good.

CSUN added a run in the second, then Mason Le drove in two with a double in the fifth. A pair of Wolf Pack errors in the sixth led to two more Matador runs to make it 8-1, putting the game out of reach.

Marks suffered his first loss of the season, being charged with four runs over four innings, with five walks. Halamicek improved to 2-1, allowing just a run on four hits over six innings.

Pierce led the Pack lineup with two hits. Barraza was 4-for-6 with three RBIs for the Matadors.

The teams return to Matador Field to close the series Saturday at 12 p.m.