California State University at Northridge
St. John's
Matadors Open 2015 Home Slate with Six-Game Week
2/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
After facing the Wolverines, the Matadors return to action this weekend with three home games as part of joint tournament CSUN is hosting with LMU. On Friday, Feb. 27 the Matadors face a pair of California rivals in Sacramento State at noon followed by a meeting with Bakersfield at 2:30 p.m. CSUN wraps up competition for the week on Saturday, Feb. 28 with a 1:30 p.m. home game against College of Charleston. Live stats will be available for all CSUN games at GoMatdors.com.
Last week, CSUN finished 4-1 for the third straight week. At the GCU Invitational, the Matadors rebounded from a 3-1 loss to Weber State in the opener to win four straight, including three games against the host Grand Canyon Antelopes.
Sophomore Katie Hooper tied a program record with seven RBIs and two home runs in an 8-3 victory over Grand Canyon. Fellow sophomores Taylor Glover (.471) and Taylor Nate (.467) both batted well north of .400 over the weekend and combined for eight runs, 14 hits and two doubles.
In the circle, freshman Zoe Conley did not allow a run over four appearances and 14.1 innings of work. She picked up two wins, posted 12 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .106 batting average. For her efforts, Conley was named Big West Pitcher of the Week.Â
Senior Brianna Elder also went 2-0 at the event, striking out 16 while holding opponents to a .188 batting average in 13 innings of work. Sunday's 12-0 victory over Grand Canyon marked the 100th career victory for CSUN head coach Tairia Flowers.
This week, CSUN opens its 2015 home season against five different foes over a five-day period. On Tuesday, St. John's brings a 4-5 overall record into the game. As a team, the Red Storm are batting .260 with six doubles, two home runs and a .332 on-base percentage.
In a doubleheader at Matador Diamond on Wednesday, CSUN takes on a Utah Valley team that is 5-5 on the season. As a team, the Wolverines are batting .286 as a team with 18 doubles, 12 home runs and a .377 on-base percentage. CSUN has never played Utah Valley in softball and has faced St. John's only twice, with both meetings coming in the 2008 season.Â
Over the weekend, CSUN will take on a pair of familiar foes while also squaring off with an opponent it has never faced in softball. On Friday, CSUN will face a Sacramento State that is 3-7 on the season. As a team, the Hornets are batting .257 with 13 doubles, four home runs and a .340 slugging percentage. The Matadors and Hornets have not met on the softball diamond since the 2003 season.
The second game Friday is a meeting with the Matadors' old Division II rivals, Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunners are 3-7 on the season and are batting .265 with eight doubles, a home run and a .327 on-base percentage as a team. The final team on CSUN's slate this week is College of Charleston. The Cougars enter the week with a 7-4 overall record and are batting .335 with 15 doubles, six home runs and a .428 on-base percentage as a team.Â
