LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Cal State Northridge Matadors erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning, capped by a grand slam from designated hitter Kellen Panganiban, to turn a close game into a rout and defeat the Pepperdine Waves 12-1 in nonconference baseball Monday at Matador Field.

The game’s decisive sequence transformed a 5-1 contest into a blowout, highlighting the divergent trajectories of the two teams this season. The Matadors improved to 10-6, while the Waves dropped their fifth straight game to fall to 3-12.

Pepperdine managed an early lead without a hit in the third inning. After a single by Shane Romero and a pitching change, the Waves loaded the bases on a walk to Julian Nunez and a hit-by-pitch to Finley Buckner. James Dell’Amico then drew a walk to force in Romero, staking Pepperdine to a 1-0 advantage.

That lead was short-lived. Cal State Northridge responded immediately in the bottom of the third, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs on five consecutive hits with two outs. The rally started with a walk to Max Coleman and a ground-rule double by Noah Linberg. Dylan Becker drove in the first run with a double, and Mike Thomas cleared the bases with a two-run triple. Thomas then scored on a double by Christian Pena, and Pena came home on a single by Connor Lee, making it 5-1.

The Matadors broke the game open in the fifth. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, Kade Boardman scored and Pena scored on a two-run double by Jake Abel. Abel then scored on a wild pitch. After another hit-by-pitch and two more walks reloaded the bases, Panganiban delivered the crushing blow, launching a grand slam over the left-center field wall off reliever Kyle Croghan to extend the lead to 12-1.

The offensive outburst overshadowed a strong collective effort from the Cal State Northridge pitching staff. Starter Jack Rogers and relievers Mateo Banuelos, Ryan Christopher, Connor McCown and Evan Jones combined to limit Pepperdine to six hits. The Waves stranded nine baserunners and went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

Linberg led the Matadors’ 10-hit attack, going 2 for 2 with two doubles and two walks, scoring twice. Thomas finished with two RBIs on his triple, and Abel drove in two with his double.

For Pepperdine, Romero had two of the team’s six hits. The Waves’ bullpen struggled, as four relievers allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks over the final 2 2/3 innings.

The game’s outcome defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had forecast a 5-2 Matadors victory and gave Cal State Northridge a 74.3% probability to win. The 11-run margin of victory was the largest for the Matadors this season.

Cal State Northridge begins a three-game home series against UC San Diego on Friday. Pepperdine returns home to open a four-game set with Massachusetts-Lowell on Thursday.