NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Two weeks ago, Kyle Ferramola was a junior college transfer struggling to get any time out of the bullpen because of control issues. Having seen some power from him during a fall batting practice for pitchers, Cal State Northridge head coach Matt Curtis decided to throw him into the batting groups to see what he could do.
With other designated hitter options struggling, Ferramola worked his way into the starting lineup Friday night. He went 2 for 3 with a two-run triple and a walk. The strong performance earned him another start in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader with Utah Valley and Ferramola went off.
Ferramola hit a pair of solo home runs to left field, including one to put the Matadors ahead for good in the eighth inning, to power Northridge past the Wolverines, 5-4, and complete the doubleheader sweep at Matador Field.
The Matadors took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. After Ryan Raslowsky doubled and stole third base, he got caught in a rundown on a Miles Williams groundout, but was able to slip away and score by running wide around the potential tag. The Utah Valley contingent was not happy the umpires didn’t rule him out of the baseline. Both Kyle Attl, who started the play on first base, and Williams advanced to scoring position. Attl scored a few pitches later on a wild pitch.
Utah Valley tied the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Raslowsky got the Matadors going once again. He led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a flare down the right field line. Riley White’s diving attempt came up just short and the ball squirted down into the right field corner, allowing Raslowsky to reach third with a triple. Attl singled him home two pitches later.
After Ferramola’s first long ball put Northridge up 4-2, Utah Valley tied it up in the eighth inning on a White RBI groundout and a C.J. Harrison RBI single. The Wolverines were assisted by two walks and two of freshman catcher Michael Najera’s four passed balls.
Ferramola had the final say, however. He knocked a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall and sent his teammates into a dugout celebration. Despite two Utah Valley hits, Josh Goossen-Brown nailed down his second save of the day. DJ Milam collected his first collegiate win, pitching the final 2/3 inning of the eighth inning.
Besides Ferramola, Raslowsky and Attl both recorded multiple hits. Raslowsky reached base three times while Attl had two hits and two walks. Mark Krueger had three hits and walked once for Utah Valley.
Check out the 21-shot photo gallery from the second game Saturday at Matador Field:
[scrollGallery id=115]
—
