NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – A six-run sixth inning led Cal State Northridge to an 11-3 victory over the William & Mary baseball team on Thursday afternoon in California. With the decision, the Tribe falls to 6-7, while the Matadors improve to 11-3 on the season.
 
Sophomore Cullen Large led the Tribe going 2-for-3 with a RBI. Freshman Kyle Wrighte also added two hits and a RBI.
 
For the second straight game and the sixth time this sesaon, the Tribe jumped on the board with a run in the first inning. A one-out walk to senior Josh Smith followed by a single from classmate Charley Gould set the table. Large followed with his team-high 10th RBI on a single, which gave W&M a 1-0 lead.
 
The Matadors answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third inning. Elias Orono tripled into right center with one out. The next batter, Fred Smith sent a sacrifice fly to center tying the game at 1-1.
 
Cal State Northridge took advantage of a Tribe error and plated four unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Albee Weiss reached on an error, moving to second a walk by Justin Toerner. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a balk. With two outs Michael Russo doubled, before Bobby Schuman singled scoring three more runs. A throwing error allowed for Schuman to score giving the Matadors a 5-1 lead.
 
CSUN tacked on six more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Russo led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch followed by Schuman and Orona singling loading the bases. An error allowed for Shuman to score. A hit by pitch and a walk allowed for the second run to score. The final four runs came on a grand-slam homer by Weiss making the lead 11-1.
 
The Tribe rallied and pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth inning. Freshman Zach Pearson led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by classmate Jason Waldman. The next batter, freshman Matthew Keane doubled down the left field scoring Pearson. Wrighte kept the rally going with a single through the left side, cutting the deficit to 11-3.
 
Sophomore Michael Toner was saddled with the loss for W&M. He tossed 3.2 innings, allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits. It was Toner's first career start.
 
Angel Rodriguez was credited for the win for the Matadors. He tossed seven innings allowing one run on four hits, with five strikeouts. Weiss led the Matadors with two hits and four RBI, while Russo drove in two runs.
 
The Green and Gold will square off with Connecticut tomorrow, Friday March 11. The game has been moved up to Noon EST because of the threat of rain tomorrow in Northridge.