CSUN Reaches Break-Even Plateau, 9-2

It comes down to this.

The Cal State Northridge baseball team knocked off San Diego State, 9-2, in a Western Athletic Conference game Saturday night in San Diego, setting the stage for today’s season finale.

If Northridge (28-28, 14-14) wins, it finishes the season above the .500 mark. A loss will result in consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1978-79.

Right-hander Keven Kempton, a 25-year-old senior making his final start for the Matadors, threw a 95-pitch seven-hitter in his strongest outing in two months.

Kempton (4-3) allowed four runs in one-third of an inning in his last start and was removed after experiencing tightness in his right shoulder.

Kempton struck out seven, walked none and didn’t allow a hit until he yielded a leadoff home run to Travis Lee in the fifth.

Third baseman Jason Shanahan hit a grand slam in the fifth, his 15th home run.

Shortstop Chad Thornhill had three hits and freshman outfielder Adam Kennedy extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

Right-hander Rob Crabtree (8-6) will start today. He pitched a four-hitter in a 1-0 victory over 12th-ranked Fresno State last weekend.