California State University at Northridge
Long Beach State
Matadors Open Big West Season at Long Beach State
3/31/2017 8:24:00 AM | Softball
CSUN has won 18 of its past 21 games heading into series
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (20-11) starts its 2017 Big West Conference schedule this week with a three-game series at Long Beach State. The Matadors and 49ers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 1 and a single game on Sunday, April 2 with both days starting at 1 p.m. at the 49er Softball Complex. Live stats will be available for all three games and links are available on the softball schedule page of GoMatadors.com.Â
Last week, CSUN won both ends of a doubleheader at CSU Bakersfield to sweep the season series with its historical rival. Over the two games, the Matadors hit five home runs and five doubles as they posted a 10-2, six-inning win and a 9-2 victory over the Roadrunners. With the two wins, CSUN is now 18-3 (.857) over its past 21 games.
Senior Tara Kliebenstein had a home run in both games, including a three-run shot in the first win, and earned Big West Conference Player of the Week honors. For the season, Kliebenstein is batting .324 with four doubles and two triples and has already established new career highs in runs (24), home runs (4), RBIs (14) and stolen bases (3).
Katie Hooper, Jessica Alexander and Taylor Glover also hit a home run on the day while Taylor Nate added a triple and Daphne Pofek and Taylor Troost picked up victories in the circle. The Matadors are currently on their second six-game winning streak of the season.Â
The Long Beach State 49ers sport a 12-18-1 overall record and are coning off a doubleheader split with LMU. In 31 games, the 49ers are batting .250 with 21 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs and eight stolen bases. In the circle, LBSU sports a 4.67 team ERA and an opponent batting average of .289 in 209.2 innings of work.Â
Lights, Camera, Action
The CSUN softball team's doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, May 6 will be broadcast by the Big West Conference on ESPN3. The Matadors and Titans start the day from Anderson Family Field at 2 p.m. and the game will also feature live stats with links available on the softball schedule page of GoMatadors.com. Â
Wild Pitches
- Taylor Glover is the fifth player in Big West Conference history to reach 80 career stolen bases
- Glover leads the Big West in hits (46), batting average (.442) and total bases (69)
- Katie Hooper (149 career RBIs) is tied for eighth in Big West Conference history and second in CSUN history
- Hooper is just the fifth player in school history to reach 30 career home runs
- Taylor Nate became just the fifth player to record 40 stolen bases in her CSUN career
- Nate enter the weekend having reached safely in 24-straight games and had a 13-game hitting streak
- With 45 career stolen bases, junior Savannah Horvath is already fourth in program history
- Horvath drove in a career-high five runs in the game two win over Murray State
- Daphne Pofek tossed a five-inning no-hitter over Sacred Heart on Mar. 8
- Pofek recorded her 35th career victory in the game one victory at CSUB
- Jessica Alexander hit two home runs and had five RBIs in a Mar. 4 win over Boise State
- Alexander leads the Big West with 27 RBIs on the season and is tied for second in home runs
- Madison Fleming drove in a career-high five RBIs in a victory over Murray State on Mar. 20
- Glover and Pofek were both named candidates for the Senior CLASS AwardÂ
- Taylor Troost and Pofek each have four shutouts and one combined shutout on the season
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