California State University at Northridge
17-4
Col. of Charleston
9-6
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Conley, Zoe (8-2)
L: Klicker (4-5)
Batting:
2B: Maples 1
Batting:
2B: Hooper, Katie 1 ; Horne, Cortney 1
HR: Hooper, Katie 1
RBI: Kliebenstein, Tara 1 ; Glover, Taylor 2 ; Hooper, Katie 1 ; Nate, Taylor 2 ; Horvath, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kliebenstein, Tara 1 ; Hooper, Katie 1 ; Toerner, Kaitlin 1 ; Nate, Taylor 1 ; Ricks, Aliyah 1 ; Wassmer, Ariana 1 ; Conley, Zoe 1 ; Mitchell, Maylynn 1
SB: Glover, Taylor 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Matadors Cap Weekend with 8-0 Shutout of College of Charleston
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (17-4) defeated College of Charleston 8-0 in five innings Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Matador Diamond. Freshman Zoe Conley tossed a two-hit shutout, Katie Hooper launched her team-leading eighth home run of the season and the Matadors tagged the Cougars for seven runs in the fifth to seal the victory.Â
At 17-4, CSUN is off to its best start since the 1996 team also started 17-4. The Matadors have not lost more than one game in a weekend thus far and went 5-1 in their opening homestand.Â
Hooper finished 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. She roped her fifth double of the season to tie for the team lead and also drew an intentional walk. In CSUN's six home games this week, Hooper batted .533 with three home runs, two doubles and six RBIs.Â
Three other Matadors recorded two hits in the victory: Taylor Glover, Taylor Nate and Cortney Horne. Glover had two RBIs and stole her team-leading 17th base of the season. Nate also had two RBIs and scored a run. Horne collected her first double of the season and batted .364 in five games this week.
In the circle, Conley (8-2) allowed just two hits and two walks in five solid innings. She added two strikeouts to post her fourth win of the week. For the season, the rookie is 8-2 with a 1.08 ERA and 63 Ks in 52 innings of work.
"We made adjustments well and stayed patient after the pitching change. We executed when we needed to, especially at the end," CSUN head coach Tairia Flowers said. "Being a young team, my staff and I are always interested to see how the squad rebounds. We move on because we know that we can make things happen. We have speed, power and pitching and the ability to come back with every pitch."
Hooper launched her eighth home run of the year off the scoreboard to break a scoreless tie in the third.Â
Conley worked around some trouble in the top of the fourth when the Cougars got the runners to second and third. She got the final out of the frame with a strikeout looking.Â
In the fifth, the Matadors struck for seven to earn the victory. With one out, Hooper doubled to right and Kaitlin Toerner came in to run for her. In the next at bat, Nate blasted a single off the shortstop that allowed Toerner to score.Â
Horne then singled up the middle and she was lifted for a pinch runner in Aliyah Ricks. In the next at-bat, Savannah Horvath singled up the middle and the Cougar outfielder allowed the ball to sail under her glove and reach the wall. That allowed Ricks and Nate to score on the play and a passed ball eventually sent Horvath to third.Â
Ariana Wassmer drew a walk and Conley reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. After a fielder's choice got the second out at the plate, Conley drew a bases loaded walk and Glover delivered a two-run single to right. After Hooper drew an intentional walk, Nate ended the game with a single to the pitcher.Â
CSUN hits the road for its next four games, traveling to Seattle, Wash., to participate in the 2015 Husky Classic from Mar. 6-8. The Matadors will play two games against the host Washington Huskies and one against both Seattle University and Ohio State University.Â