Kempton Completes Painful Outing, Beats Fullerton, 7-3 : College baseball: CSUN pitcher takes liner on bare hand, manages to finish 12th game in as many starts.

Keven Kempton had never pitched on four days’ rest. Nor had he pitched with a right hand that swelled and throbbed. But, as usual, Kempton finished the job Wednesday in host Cal State Northridge’s 7-3 win over 11th-ranked Cal State Fullerton.

In notching his 12th complete game in as many starts, Kempton (9-3) compensated for the lack of pop on his fastball--a symptom of his abbreviated rest period--by throwing a higher percentage of sliders and cut fastballs.

The Titans had him in trouble in the second inning, but right fielder Greg Shepard made a diving catch and doubled Jeremy Carr off first base, limiting Fullerton to two runs.

In the eighth, with Northridge leading, 7-2, Kempton gave up a one-out solo home run to Tony Banks and what appeared to be a double by Adam Millan. But left-fielder David Prosenko played the wall perfectly and threw out the slow-footed Millan at second base.

Still, the Titans loaded the bases on two singles and an error, but Kempton got pinch-hitter Bret Hemphill to pop out while fishing for an outside slider.

With one out in the ninth, Kempton tried to field Dante Powell’s screeching comebacker with his pitching hand. Shortstop Andy Hodgins gloved the deflection and threw Powell out at first while Kempton writhed in pain.

“I didn’t know if it was broken,” said Kempton. “I didn’t let the trainer get a good look at it because I wasn’t coming out. To get me off the mound you’re gonna have to drag me.”

Despite the pain, which X-rays showed to be a bone bruise, Kempton threw six more pitches and induced Banks to ground out on a slider.

“I was looking for a fastball,” Banks said. “He didn’t really give in all day.”

Kempton can’t spell give in, which is why he didn’t balk when Northridge Coach Bill Kernen asked him to pitch (without his usual six-day rest) instead of a second line starter. Kernen is intent on boosting the Matadors’ nonconference record in the hopes of gaining an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.

“We gotta give ourselves the best chance of building up our credentials,” Kernen said.

Northridge (30-15), winner of four consecutive games, was pounded, 12-4, in its last meeting with the Titans (31-15).

“This was a big win for us,” second baseman Chris Olsen said. “It is gonna look good when we perform well against ranked teams.”

Matador Notes

Catcher Mike Sims was the only Matador player to get more than one hit against five Titan pitchers. Along with his three-for-four performance, he extended his hitting streak to 13 games, although he’s not superstitious about it.

“I don’t think about the streak much,” Sims said. “I just go out and try to play the same every day, get my one or two hits and catch a good game.” . . .

Junior pitcher Keven Kempton, who turned 23 Sunday, is considering leaving Northridge one year early if he is drafted in a promising position in June.

“Without a doubt, Northridge is a great place to come back to next year and draft day can be so confusing,” Kempton said. “Northridge is No. 1, but (a pro career) is in the back of my mind. I can’t lie.

“Last year, I thought I got kinda screwed. Scouts were telling me they thought highly of me and then on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd I’m home and there are no phone calls.” . . .

In expressing his gratitude to Coach Bill Kernen for his development, Kempton pointed out what a difficult season it has been for Kernen since his friend, assistant Stan Sanchez, resigned midway through the season, leaving the team with only one assistant, P.C. Shaw.

“He’s done a miraculous job with (Sanchez) gone,” Kempton said. “We were puzzled and bewildered. Then we realized that we had to help out. There comes a time when you gotta do things for yourself.” . . .

Down, 2-1, Northridge scored six runs on four hits and three errors in the fifth inning, during which Matador second baseman Chris Olsen and Titan left-hander Mark Holiday were reunited in a key at-bat.

Unlike their days as teammates at Cerritos College, Holiday was not as commanding against Olsen.

“He pitched me the way he always pitches me,” Olsen said. “I was expecting a curveball (outside) and I took it the other way,” said the right-handed hitter. David Prosenko scored on Olsen’s double and the Northridge rally continued. Andy Small drew a walk, Sims hit a run-scoring single and Andy Hodgins lashed an RBI double just inside the left field line, driving Holiday out of the game.