California State University Northridge Athletics
CSUN Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2012
- Class:
- 1983
Led by second-year head coach Gary Torgeson, the Matadors finished the season with a 35-20-2 overall record (10-6 CCAA) and captured the program's first of three consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships. The championship marked the first NCAA softball title in school history and laid the foundation for a collegiate softball dynasty.
The Matadors qualified for the 1983 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series, which was held at Hart Park in Orange, Calif. After advancing through the double-elimination tournament, CSUN defeated defending national champion Sam Houston State by a score of 1-0 in the championship game. The victory avenged the Matadors' 3-2 loss to Sam Houston State in the 1982 national championship game in Stratford, Conn., and secured the program's first NCAA title. Torgeson also earned the first of his three Division II national championships at CSUN.
Several Matadors received national recognition for their postseason performances. Pitcher Kathy (Kat) Slaten-Ayala was named to the NCAA Division II All-Tournament Team, while shortstop Kathy Toerner, outfielders Terri Lamoree and Linda Lowande, and utility player Stacy Lim also earned All-Tournament honors. Six Matadors would also earn All-CCAA honors.
The 1983 championship season established CSUN as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II softball. The national title was the first of three consecutive appearances in the Division II championship game and launched a period of sustained success under Torgeson. The Matadors successfully defended their championship in both 1984 and 1985, becoming one of the most dominant softball programs of the mid-1980s.
