NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Rhode Island scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 10-8 victory over Cal State Northridge Wednesday afternoon at Matador Field.
Northridge (6-8) reliever Cole Hallum couldn’t hold a 4-3 lead, allowing three two-out runs in the seventh inning. The Matadors (8-9) cut Rhode Island’s lead to 6-5 in the bottom half of the inning. Todd Eskelin’s sacrifice fly scored Miles Williams, but pinch runner Chester Pak was stranded at third base as the potential tying run.
In the eighth inning, the Rams put the game out of reach with four runs, abated by three errors in the inning. A pair of the errors were by third baseman Brett Balkan, prompting coach Kevin Curtis to pull Balkan in the middle of the inning.
Cal Vogelsang crushed a two-run homer in the upper half of a tree beyond left-centerfield to cut the lead to 10-7 in the eighth and the Matadors were able to tally another in the ninth. They put the tying run on base, but Rhode Island closer Mike Bradstreet got pinch hitter Travis Beck to hit an easy comebacker to end the game.
Rob Curran was awarded his first win of the season, pitching 2 1/3 innings.
Vogelsang finished the game with three hits and three RBI. Williams, Marty Bowen and Kyle Attl all had multiple hits as well. Attl hit his second home run of his career. Pat Fortunato homered for the Rams.
Check out the full photo gallery from the Cal State Northridge/Rhode Island Wednesday afternoon matchup below:
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