Kennedy Keeps Booking as Northridge Sweeps

NORTHRIDGE — On a day when nearly every Cal State Northridge player contributed, one continued his assault on the school record book.

The Matadors (40-18-1) defeated Southern Utah, 8-0 and 17-3, on Saturday to keep alive their hopes for an NCAA tournament berth. The sweep gave them four victories over the Thunderbirds (8-37) in two days and 19 victories in their past 24 games.

The pitching was impeccable. Erasmo Ramirez (10-3) pitched a four-hitter in the opener, walking none, and Nathan Rice (5-4) allowed one run over seven innings in the second game.

And reserves played more than a bit role. Freshmen Matt Pitstick and Jason Gause hit their first college home runs, senior Clark Parker had three hits in the first game and junior Mike McNeely homered in the second game.

But head-and-shoulders above the rest was Adam Kennedy. After a quiet one for four in the first game, the junior All-American shortstop doubled three times and capped the day with a grand slam.

His second double broke the school record of 121 hits he set last season. Kennedy, who led the nation in hits last year and leads again by more than 20 hits this season, has 124.

After raking the Thunderbirds, the unassuming Kennedy took on his postgame chore of raking the third-base line.

“The record means something because it is a sign I didn’t let up,” he said. “I could have been happy with what I did last year and just tried to duplicate that. But personally, I thought I could do better.”

Better than any player to wear a Northridge uniform?

“On paper he certainly is, and anybody ahead of him in any category didn’t play against the competition Adam played against the past three years,” Coach Mike Batesole said. “There hasn’t been a better player at Cal State Northridge than Adam Kennedy.

“I’d go as far to say he’s the best player I’ve ever been around. I played with Barry Bonds, Lenny Dykstra, Darryl Strawberry and lots of other guys at the same point in their development where Adam is now. None of them got it done every day like he does.”

This will be Kennedy’s final Northridge season because he is certain to be drafted and signed by a pro team in June. He will leave as the school’s all-time leader in most offensive categories.

Already he is No. 1 with 237 runs, 327 hits, 226 runs batted in, 62 doubles and 18 triples. He is one home run from Scott Sharts’ record of 51, set in 1990-91, and he will own the record for highest batting average. Kennedy’s career mark is .411 and the record is .396, set by Mike Solomon in 1983-84.

This season, Kennedy set the record of 31 doubles and will establish the record for batting average, .479 at this point. He is within reach of records for home runs, RBIs and runs.

“My numbers are a reflection of the guys who get on base ahead of me and the guys batting behind me,” he said.

Northridge raised its average to .337 with 23 hits and lowered its earned-run average to 4.64.

The Matadors have four games left, including two against USC and one against UCLA.

“Everybody will need to be on top of their intensity,” Kennedy said.

Matador notes

Outfielder Terrmel Sledge’s hitting streak ended at 23 games. He had two hits in the first game but was hitless in the second. . . . Northridge pitchers walked only three in the four-game series. . . . On Tuesday, the Matadors play host to Cal State San Bernardino, which beat Northridge on April 5.