CSUN Softball Hosts UC Santa Barbara in Big West Series

Saturday, April 16

Northridge, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: Braden Villanueva

CSUN Softball Hosts UC Santa Barbara in Big West Series

4/15/2016 10:08:00 AM | Softball

Matadors and Gauchos Enter the Weekend Tied at 3-3 in League Play

By: by Geoffrey Herberg

CSUN Game Notes

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (23-18, 3-3 Big West) return to Matador Diamond this weekend for a three-game Big West Conference series against UC Santa Barbara. The Matadors and Gauchos will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 and a single game on Sunday, April 17 with both days slated for a 1 p.m. start. Saturday's twin bill will feature a live video stream of both games and all three contests will be feature an audio broadcast with Brandon Marcus on the CSUN Sports Network. All links for audio, video and live stats are available at GoMatadors.com and fans are also encouraged to check with the CSUN softball official Twitter handle (@CSUNSoftball) for updates throughout the weekend.

Last week, the Matadors won their second-straight Big West Conference series in Honolulu, taking two of three games from Hawai'i. Junior Daphne Pofek posted complete-game victories in games one and two to improve to 10-5 on the season and tie for fourth in wins among all Big West Conference pitchers. Senior Ariana Wassmer and junior Taylor Glover belted key home runs in the wins and Wassmer tied a career high for the third time this season with three RBIs in the game one victory.

Although CSUN dropped the finale to the Rainbow Wahine and the Matadors fell in a mid-week match-up with No. 13 UCLA, a path to a second-straight Big West Conference title is still a distinct possibility. First and foremost, the Matadors must take care of a talented UC Santa Barbara team that is one of the conference's top hitting squads.

UCSB enters the weekend with a 20-20 overall record and a 3-3 mark in Big West Conference play. Last week, the Gauchos lost all three at UC Riverside for the first time in program history. However, they did post a series sweep over their rivals from Cal Poly to start the league campaign. On the season, UCSB is 0-5 in away games.

At the plate, the Gauchos carry a team batting average of .312 into the weekend. They have hit 42 doubles, four triples and 17 home runs and lead the league in singles (277) by 28. Junior Kristen Clark leads UC Santa Barbara with a .437 batting average and a .497 on-base percentage, having totaled 59 hits, 13 RBIs and 15 stolen bases on the season. Jessica Johnston (.341), Jacqueline Hinojosa (.327), Melanie Menor (.315), Emily Brucelas and Ariana Palomares (.303) have appeared in all 40 games and carry batting averages over .300 into the weekend.

In the circle, Ashley Ludlow leads the squad with a 7-9 record and a 2.44 ERA in 120.1 innings of work. She has 119 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .271 batting average and 24 extra-base hits. In Big West play, Ludlow is 2-2 with a 1.04 ERA and 24 Ks in 27 innings of work. Veronika Gulvin has started two Big West games and is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and six Ks in 14 innings of work. For the season, opponents have totaled 76 extra-base hits and a .286 batting average.

On Saturday, the Matadors will be collecting clothing donations for Good Shepherd Shelter. Fans donating new or gently worn apparel will receive complimentary admission to the game. On Sunday, there will be $1 admission for all fans wearing pink. The first 50 fans with a game ticket receive will receive a free #MatadorsCare Pink Ribbon t-shirt and the first 200 fans with a game ticket will receive a free Cup of Menchie's of Granada Hills Frozen Yogurt.

CSUN Team Notes

Taylor Glover batted an even .500 (56-112) in 35 Non-Conference Games in the 2016 seasons
Mackenzie Babbitt set new career highs with three runs scored and two hits at CSU Bakersfield on Mar. 29
With 30 career stolen bases, sophomore Savannah Horvath already ranks tied for eighth in program history
The Matadors lead the Big West in home runs (30) and total bases (457) as of April 14
Ariana Wassmer is third in the Big West with a career-high six home runs this season
Taylor Troost recorded a six-inning no-hitter against Idaho State on Mar. 18
Maylynn Mitchell leads team with four sacrifice bunts and sports a .992 fielding percentage in 119 chances
Wassmer leads the Big West in defensive putouts (297) and fielding double plays (15)
Karlie Habitz is tied for fifth in the Big West in home runs as of April 14
Daphne Pofek recorded a pair of complete-game victories in CSUN's series win at Hawai'i
In 2016, the Matadors have produced 65 multi-hit games and 41 multi-RBI games
In 2016, the Matadors have stolen 65 bases to rank third in the Big West as of April 14
The Matadors have totaled 52 doubles in the 2016 season, ranking third in the Big West as of April 14
In its 41 games in 2016, CSUN has executed 21 sac bunts and 10 sac flies

Next Week

CSUN hits the road next week, traveling to Cal Poly for a three-game Big West Conference series. The Matadors and Mustangs will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23 and a single game on Sunday, April 24 with both days slated for a 1 p.m. start.