Matadors End Weekend with 6-2 Victory over Colorado State

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (21-8) defeated Colorado State 6-2 Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game as part of a tournament at Matador Diamond. Brianna Elder scattered five hits and one earned run to go with eight strikeouts in a complete game performance while the Matadors' offense generated at least a run in each of the first five innings.

After allowing a run in the first inning, Elder (8-3) settled in and shut down a tough Rams offense. She fanned eight batters in tossing her fifth complete game of the season. Elder is now 8-3 with a 2.17 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 84 innings of work. Opponents are batting just .197 off Elder for the season.

Offensively, sophomore Taylor Nate went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and freshman Savannah Horvath added two RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Freshman Cortney Horne also had two hits in the victory and Taylor Glover set a program Division I record with her 20th stolen base of the season.

In the bottom of the first, Katie Hooper picked up her 33rd RBI of the season to score Horvath and tie the game. In the second, Horvath drove in Maylynn Mitchell with an RBI single to give the Matadors the lead.

The third inning saw Crystal Maas produce an RBI single and Ariana Wassmer successfully execute a suicide squeeze to score Nate.

In the fifth, Glover stole second and the throw sailed into center field to allow Nate to come home from third base.

CSUN returns to action this weekend with five games in Stockton, Calif. as part of the Louisville Slugger Invitational on the campus of the University of the Pacific. The Matadors will face the Connecticut Huskies (1:15 p.m.) and the host Tigers (5:45 p.m.) on Friday, Mar. 20.

Players Mentioned

Brianna Elder

Taylor Glover

Katie Hooper

Cortney Horne

Savannah Horvath

Crystal Maas

Maylynn Mitchell

Taylor Nate