CSUN’s Gamble Fizzles, 11-3 : College baseball: Frenso State scores nine runs in the second against Morales, who was making his first start.

Cal State Northridge Coach Bill Kernen gambled on right-hander Steven Morales on Sunday and lost.

Not only did Kernen take a chance starting the injury-plagued Morales for the first time this season, he stayed with him while Morales gave up seven hits--including a two-run homer--in Fresno State’s nine-run second inning.

Buoyed by a seven-run lead, Fresno State’s Mark Cruise cooled off the Matador bats, limiting Northridge to eight hits in the Bulldogs’ 11-3 victory.

The 23rd-ranked Matadors (33-18, 13-11 in Western Athletic Conference West play) were riding high after dominating the 11th-ranked Bulldogs (37-19, 14-8) in the first two games of the three-game series at Matador Field.

But Northridge came down to earth quickly in the second.

Morales hit the leadoff batter, then gave up a run-scoring double and a one-out single. On a potential double-play grounder, shortstop Andy Hodgins’ throw sailed past second baseman Chris Olsen. The error, Hodgins’ 23rd of the season, allowed two runs to score for a 3-2 Fresno State lead.

Eric Greene, formerly of Newbury Park High, followed with a grounder that was misplayed by Olsen. After a double by Mike Roe that increased the lead to 5-2, Kernen strode to the mound for a chat with Morales.

“I didn’t think it was his fault,” Kernen said. “We broke down defensively.”

Although Johnny Najar was warming up in the bullpen, Kernen had no intention of removing Morales. He said he went to the mound in an attempt to disrupt Fresno State’s tempo.

“I thought his stuff was still good enough. . . . and the way we’ve been hitting the ball, that’s not enough runs to beat us,” Kernen said.

But the WAC West champion Bulldogs were only warming up. Gary McNamara delivered the knockout blow, a two-run homer that increased Fresno State’s lead to 9-2. At that point, Kernen summoned Najar, a former Fresno State pitcher who limited his former teammates to two runs through the next 6 1/3 innings.

Morales (0-1) was charged with only two earned runs and was frustrated by the errors. Despite the lopsided score, he wanted to stay in the game. “I knew it would get better,” he said. “It was only a matter of time.”

Kernen believes that it could have been a different game if Northridge had turned the inning-ending double play, allowing Morales to start the third and get more comfortable on the mound.

Since April 4, 1992 when he suffered a stress fracture in his right elbow, Morales had made only one appearance. In that game, March 23 against Cal State Long Beach, he retired only one of 10 batters. The next morning his arm was tender and his season appeared over. But after a four-week rest period, he worked his way back into pitching shape.

“If he tells me he’s ready to pitch--if he’s right--he’s the best pitcher in this program,” Kernen said. “When a guy like Morales goes through what he’s gone through, when he’s ready to pitch I’m OK with giving him a shot.”

Kernen could not use normal WAC starter Keven Kempton because he had a muscle spasm in his forearm.

Matador Notes

Northridge’s 13-11 WAC West record tied the Matadors for second with Cal State Sacramento. . . . Matador Coach Bill Kernen is hopeful that Keven Kempton can start Tuesday in the team’s final regular-season game against defending national champion Pepperdine. Although the Matadors scored points with the NCAA selection committee by winning two of three against Fresno State, they still are not guaranteed an at-large berth in the NCAA tournament. As a result, Northridge is approaching the Pepperdine game as a “must-win” situation. The tournament field will be announced May 24. . . . Catcher Mike Sims extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a two-run home run in the first inning. Right fielder Greg Shepard hit his 11th homer of the season and third in the last three games.