Cal State Northridge hammers Hawaii to clinch series
Josh Gooseen-Brown went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Cal State Northridge roughed up Hawaii starter Matt Cooper, who allowed a season-high 10 hits and seven earned runs in a 9-4 loss to the Matadors on Saturday night at Les Murakami Stadium.
Catcher Alexis Mercado added two hits and two RBIs for the Matadors (21-17, 7-4 Big West), who moved into a tie with Cal Poly for second place in the conference.
Kalei Hanawahine tied a season-high with three hits for the Rainbows (8-26, 3-8), who have lost nine of 10.
Cooper (2-5) lasted just 5 1/3 innings to take the loss and gave up six hits in the third inning alone as Northridge scored four times to take a 5-2 lead.
Kamehameha alumnus Harley Holt gave up doubles to high school teammates Hanawahine and Pi’ikea Kitamura in two scoreless innings of relief.
Calvin Copping (4-3) allowed four runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings with three walks and two strikeouts to earn the win.
Northridge finished with 14 hits.
The series ends Sunday at 1:05 p.m.