CSUN RIPS SAN FRANCISCO\CSUN 22, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Word is spreading throughout Southern California about how good Cal State Northridge's baseball team is this season.

In their latest triumph on Sunday, the Matadors hit four home runs to blow out visiting San Francisco 22-1, raising their record to 12-1.

With the largest home crowd of the season - more than 400 fans - cheering them on, the No. 13-ranked Matadors beat one of the top pitchers in the West Coast Conference, San Francisco sophomore left-hander Rich Igou.

First baseman Grant Hohman hit a three-run home run in the first inning and added a two-run home run in the eighth. Third baseman Eric Gillespie hit a three-run home run in the sixth. Shortstop Adam Kennedy contributed a home run, three-run double and run-scoring single. Catcher Robert Fick, now hitting .438, had a three-run double.

If all that hitting wasn't impressive enough, Northridge pitcher Robby Crabtree (5-0) allowed two hits in six innings. San Francisco (7-2), which was shut out by Erasmo Ramirez on Saturday, finished with just three hits.

"Ramirez and Crabtree can beat anybody in the country," San Francisco coach Rich Hill said. "With that one-two punch, I think that makes them a legitimate contender in the WAC. And they have five or six hitters who can put a charge into a ball. I do think they have a legitimate ballclub."

Quick - somebody draw up a contract and give it to Northridge athletic director Paul Bubb. He might want to sign interim baseball coach Mike Batesole to a long-term deal extra quick before some other Division I program tries to steal him.

With startling swiftness, the 31-year-old Batesole has put together a baseball team that clearly rates among the best in the nation.

Northridge's staff ERA is 2.41. The team batting average is .296. On Sunday, there were several terrific defensive plays, too. Center fielder Kurt Airoso made a diving catch. Shortstop Kennedy started a double play by short-hopping a tricky ground ball. And catcher Fick threw out a San Francisco baserunner trying to steal second. Hill, whose team ends a three-game series with the Matadors today at 2 p.m., is sick of Fick.

"We still haven't figured out what to throw him," Hill said. "I think tomorrow, we're going to throw him underhand."

Batesole, however, said he'd trade all 12 victories "for a win" next weekend, when the Matadors begin Western Athletic Conference play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

"There are teams every year that get off to a great start and don't finish," he said. "We've got 59 games to play this year. We haven't earned anything yet."

With wins over UCLA, Texas twice and San Francisco twice, the Matadors are showing they can beat top teams. And they aren't likely to face better pitchers than Igou, who came in with a 3-0 record and 1.08 ERA. But the former Notre Dame High star struggled from the outset. He walked three batters in the first inning on 3-2 counts, hit a batter and gave up a three-run home run to Hohman. In 4-1/3 innings, Igou walked six, struck out six and allowed eight runs.

"We've pitched well and showed some good discipline," Batesole said. "Igou has great stuff and knows how to pitch. We dealt with that."