CSUN LOSS LEAVES KENNEDY ANGERED : SAN DIEGO STATE 5, CSUN 4.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

The competitive fire that burns inside Cal State Northridge shortstop Adam Kennedy erupted into a towering inferno Tuesday after the Matadors' 5-4 home loss to San Diego State.

Frustrated after watching the Matadors (7-2-1) sleepwalk their way through the first eight innings and concerned with their dangerous habit of falling behind early in games, Kennedy issued a wake-up call to his teammates.

``We have some guys in the lineup that don't know what they're thinking at the plate,'' Kennedy said. ``We've all got to start doing our jobs and that's not happening right now.''

Kennedy didn't single out anybody in his comments, but he spared few.

``Maybe everybody will read this in the paper and think it's about them,'' Kennedy said.

But he didn't exclude himself from the criticism, either. Nor could he. Kennedy suffered through a dismal game in which his own baserunning errors sabotaged two potentially big innings. The failed opportunities cost starter Benny Flores, who lost his first game of the year despite pitching well enough to win.

In the first, Kennedy was thrown out at third base by Aztecs catcher Jason Phillips after a botched bunt attempt by Jose Miranda. Then in the third, he was involved in a double play that was as bizarre as it was damaging.

With Andy Wilson at first base and no outs, Kennedy hit a catchable line drive to center fielder Stewart Smothers, who dropped it. Wilson, thinking the ball had been caught, turned around at second base and raced back toward first. Kennedy - who was standing on first base - started walking back to the Northridge dugout.

``I just assumed the ball had been caught,'' Kennedy admitted.

Wilson was tagged out in a rundown and Kennedy was tagged out moments later while standing at home plate.

``By the time I realized what was going on, there wasn't much I could do,'' Kennedy said.

Unlike the Matadors, San Diego State (7-2) took advantage of its chances. The Aztecs scored two runs in the sixth and seventh innings off relievers Gary Stephenson and Bryant Fick to take a 5-1 lead. Northridge, which had only two hits in the first eight innings, pushed across three runs in the ninth on a two-run home run by Jose Miranda and a solo shot by Casey Cheshier. But the rally came up short when pinch-hitter Clark Parker struck out to end the game.

The timing of Kennedy's challenge is not lost. Northridge, which broke into the top 20 in two national polls Monday, is in the middle of its toughest stretch of the year. The Matadors are on the road against Cal State Fullerton today, face Pepperdine ace Randy Wolf on Friday and play USC next week. A good showing is critical to their postseason hopes.