AP Sports Preview: Fresno State at Cal State Northridge

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Cal State Northridge hosts Fresno State in a midweek non-conference matchup Wednesday at Matador Field, with the Matadors looking to build momentum against a struggling Bulldogs squad.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies, with temperatures expected around 53 degrees.

The Matadors (22-20-1) enter the game having dropped three straight, including a 5-2 loss Sunday at Cal Poly. Fresno State (12-28-1) has lost four consecutive games, most recently a 6-2 home defeat to San Diego State on Sunday.

The teams met once earlier this season, with CSUN outlasting Fresno State 11-9 on March 17.

Players to watch

For Fresno State, right-hander Erik Rico has been one of the Bulldogs’ more dependable arms despite inconsistent results. In his last outing Sunday against San Diego State, Rico allowed four earned runs on five hits over 6.1 innings with three strikeouts in a loss. He threw five scoreless, hitless innings with four strikeouts in a win at Long Beach State on April 21. Over his last five appearances, Rico has a 5.12 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

For CSUN, righty James Voorhies has been dominant out of the bullpen. In his last five outings, Voorhies has thrown 10.1 innings without allowing an earned run, surrendering just one hit while striking out 12. He has not given up a run in four of those five appearances, including 2.2 scoreless, hitless innings with one strikeout Sunday at Cal Poly.

Recent results

Fresno State is 2-8 over its last 10 games, with the lone wins coming April 21 at Long Beach State and April 14 against Cal State Bakersfield. The Bulldogs were swept by San Diego State over the weekend, losing 4-3 in 11 innings Friday, 8-5 Saturday and 6-2 Sunday.

CSUN dropped two of three at Cal Poly over the weekend, with the only win coming in an 11-4 rout Saturday. Before that, the Matadors took two of three from UC Davis at home, winning 5-3 and 11-2 before falling 11-3.

Projection

According to Interstat’s game simulator, CSUN is projected to win 3-2. The Matadors hold a 56.2 percent probability of victory based on Interstat’s ELO system.

Up next

Fresno State opens a three-game series at Washington State on Friday. CSUN begins a three-game set at Oregon State the same day.