Contreras Gets Start for Northridge

Junior right-hander Marco Contreras will start for Cal State Northridge on Thursday in the NCAA West Regional opener against St. John’s at Tempe, Ariz.

Contreras (7-4, 4.30 earned-run average) got the nod over right-hander Keven Kempton (9-4, 4.07) and left-hander John Bushart (10-3, 4.23). “It is kind of like starting the first game this season,” Contreras said. “I have some jitters, but that’s good for me.”

Contreras, a transfer from Citrus College, is coming off an iron-man relief effort against defending NCAA champion Pepperdine on May 18. Just three days after pitching a complete-game victory over Fresno State, Contreras took over for the ailing Kempton in the first inning and pitched 10 innings of relief as the Matadors rallied for a 10-9 win.

Such resilience could enable Contreras to start again Sunday if the second-seeded Matadors (34-18) are still in contention in the double-elimination, six-team regional.

“Hopefully, we’ll go all the way and I’ll have a role Sunday,” Contreras said. “I’m excited. We have to focus one game at a time, but hopefully we’ll go to (the College World Series) Omaha.”

Kempton, hampered by a sore elbow, is scheduled to start Friday. If the Matadors are still alive Saturday, Bushart will start.

St. John’s Coach Joe Russo said he has not decided who will start for the Big East Conference tournament champions. Russo will choose between left-handers Tom Danulevith (6-4, 4.73) and C.J. Nitkowski (5-3, 2.79), and right-hander Mike Maerten (2-1, 3.96).