California State University at Northridge
Washington
Matadors Embark to Seattle for 2015 Husky Classic
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Last week, CSUN continued its best start to a season in nearly two decades by going 5-1 in its first six home games of the 2015 season. The Matadors posted two run-rule victories over the week and Zoe Conley tossed the first CSUN no-hitter since the 2008 season to go with 16 strikeouts in a victory over Utah Valley. Conley earned repeat honors as Big West Pitcher of the Week by going 4-1 with a 0.69 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 20.1 innings of work.
At the plate, sophomore Katie Hooper continues to lead the Matadors' potent attack. For the year, Hooper leads the club and the Big West Conference in the three Triple Crown categories: a .436 batting average, eight home runs and 25 RBIs. Fellow sophomores Taylor Glover, Carissa Sherman and Taylor Nate have also had robust seasons at the plate and on the basepaths, combining for 19 hits and 11 stolen bases over the six-game homestand.
This week, CSUN faces a series of tests in the Pacific Northwest. Washington is 19-4 overall and has won five straight entering the week. Senior Kylee Lahners leads the Huskies with a .483 batting average while adding five home runs and 20 RBIs this season. In fact, Washington boasts four other players currently batting over .392 for the season: Trysten Melhart, Taylor Van Zee, Kelli Suguro and Alli Aguilar. As a team, Washington is batting .359 with 32 home runs and 167 RBIs.
In the circle, Casey Stangel is 5-1 with a 1.92 ERA while Hailey Bator is 7-1 with a 2.97 ERA. Opponents are batting .275 off Washington pitchers this season and both the Huskies and their opponents have drawn 77 free passes on the year. The all-time series between CSUN and Washington is tied 6-6, although the two sides have never met in Seattle.Â
Seattle University enters the week with a 6-13 overall record and posted a win over Boise State last week. Bubba Morrow leads the Redhawks with a .373 batting average, 18 runs, six home runs and 16 RBIs. Breanna Timmons adds a team-high six doubles and seven RBIs for Seattle, who is batting .265 as a team for the season. In the circle, Mandie Sugita is 4-3 with a 3.13 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 53.2 innings of work. Opponents are batting .350 with 17 home runs off Seattle pitching this season. CSUN is a perfect 3-0 in the all-time series with the Redhawks.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 11-5 on the year and have already traveled to tournaments in South Carolina, Texas, California and Alabama prior to their trip to Seattle. As a team, the Buckeyes are batting .320 with 18 home runs and 95 RBIs. Keelia Nester leads the squad with a .429 batting average while Taylor White checks in at .383 with three home runs. In the circle, Olivia O'Reilly is 6-1 with a 2.75 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 40.2 innings of work. Opponents are batting .267 and have 17 home runs off Ohio State pitching. CSUN leads the all-time series with Ohio State 10-5, but the Buckeyes posted a 9-0 victory over the Matadors in 2014.
Follow Your Matadors Online
All home games this season will include live stats coverage and selected contests will also feature a free audio broadcast on GoMatadors.com. For road games, related links to the game, including for any live stats, audio and video, will be posted before the game on the softball schedule page of GoMatadors.com. Fans are also encouraged to check the CSUN Athletics Department's official Twitter feed (@GoMatadors) for updates of games in progress and news and notes throughout the week.
Take Your Seat in the Front Row
Fans can now follow all of the action for CSUN's 19 varsity sports right from their phone or tablet! CSUN Front Row, the official mobile app of Matador Athletics, is available for free for iOS and Android devices. Fans can also access live stats coverage of a majority of CSUN home events, as well as audio and video links when available. For more information, search for CSUN Front Row on the App Store or Google Play or visit GoMatadors.com/frontrow.
