COLLEGE SCENE CSUN.

Byline: - Jill Painter and Chris Cocoles

Of the injuries to its three projected weekend starting pitchers, the baseball team's most puzzling has been the one to junior Matt Larson. The Matadors' top returning veteran, Larson (6-2, 3.98 ERA last season) threw just 26 innings before being shut down with a mysterious shoulder injury.

``There have been several doctors trying to figure it out,'' coach Steve Rousey said. ``What we know right now is that it's a debilitating injury. He can't even throw the ball 60 feet. I think it's going to have to be an exploratory surgery to figure out what the heck it is.''

Notre Dame High of Sherman Oaks graduate Phil Polanco (leg) has decided to redshirt. Junior Nathan Hochgesang (shoulder) probably won't need surgery but is questionable to pitch again this season. Even with an inexperienced and patchwork pitching staff, the Matadors (11-35, 5-7) are closing with a push to respectability by winning three of their past four games.

LMU 

The women's water polo team has been cleaning up in and out of the pool. The Lions have won 16 of their past 17 games, their third consecutive Western Water Polo Association title and a slew of awards; John Loughran was named coach of the year and Teresa Guidi player of the year.

LMU (20-7) will play UCLA in the semifinals of the NCAA championships May 10-11 at UC San Diego. The Lions, who lost to the Bruins twice this season, have lost to UCLA in the semifinals the past two years.

``I think we can definitely challenge them,'' Loughran said. ``This team is much better than last year's team. And we've done it with nine new players. They're young and they're fearless. They've got nothing to lose.''

Guidi, a junior, scored five goals in the WWPA tournament's three games over the weekend. She finished the regular season with 28 goals (making 40 percent of her shots) and a team-high 56 steals.

PEPPERDINE

The men's volleyball team was rolling along and ranked No. 1 most of the year until a five-game loss to Brigham Young on Saturday in the final of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament in Malibu.

The Waves (24-5) - seeded second in the NCAA Final Four - will play No. 3 Lewis College at 6 p.m. in a semifinal Thursday at the Pyramid in Long Beach.

``I'm not looking backward,'' Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy said after the loss to BYU. ``Our focus is the next one. We had some chances. They had some chances. They have a good team. I've known that even before the season started.''

Pepperdine was favored to win the NCAA Tournament last year but lost to Hawaii in the final. Pepperdine and BYU could meet again for the title Saturday; BYU won two of three matches between the teams this season, all in Malibu.

UCLA

The Bruins will be kicking themselves at the end of the baseball season for what might have been.

UCLA has defeated some of the nation's premier teams, including a 13-2 victory over defending national champion Texas and a 12-2 rout of No. 25 Tulane. The Bruins also took of two of three from North Carolina State, which rose to seventh in the nation, and swept a two-game series from perennial power Wichita State.

In Pacific-10 Conference play, the Bruins are 4-2 against the Arizona schools, both in the Top 25.

So why is UCLA 19-25 overall? Midweek failures. The Bruins went zero for their first nine in Tuesday and Wednesday matchups against mostly local nonconference opponents.

``That's the attitude out here. We can beat anyone anytime,'' said center fielder Matt Thayer, who played at Harvard-Westlake of Studio City. ``We've had moments of great baseball and moments of not so good. We need to find a way to be consistent and play that way daily.''...

The UCLA-Oregon State baseball game Sunday was moved to noon at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

USC 

Sophomore pitchers Josh Rummonds and Bret Butler weren't supposed to perform roles this prominent for the Trojans, but there have been several setbacks to the pitching staff.

Rummonds has four victories and two saves. Butler has a 3.98 ERA with five saves as the team's primary closer. Combined, they've thrown 86 1/3 innings.

``Rummonds has been really good. (Throwing) strikes. Poise. With the aluminum bat you're bound to have your moments,'' pitching coach Dave Lawn said. ...

Freshman catcher Jeff Clement hit his 18th homer in a 12-2 victory Sunday at Oregon State. He also gave the Trojans a scare when an errant throw hit him in the face while running the bases. He suffered a black eye but remained in the game.