CSUN Battles On Opening Day Of 2018 Softball Season

TEMPE, Ariz.—The CSUN softball team opened the 2018 campaign Friday with a pair of games against No. 3 Oregon and Missouri at the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic.

"We played two very good programs and we battled to the end in each game," said CSUN head coach Tairia Flowers.

CSUN-OREGON
The Ducks defeated the Matadors 15-6 to begin the day. Oregon scored four times in the second, three in the third, three in the fourth. CSUN broke the seal in the top of the fifth when Savannah Horvath hit a three-run home run. Corin Green drove in the fourth Matador run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

CSUN added two more in the sixth when Mackenzie Babbit and Kira Cauley each posted a two-out RBI. The Ducks scored the final four runs in the bottom of the sixth. DJ Sanders' three-run home run with one out invoked the mercy rule to conclude the game.

In addition to Sanders, Oregon's Shannon Rhodes, and Gwen Svekis each hit home runs. Rhodes posted three hits and three runs for the Ducks. In addition to her home run, Horvath was 2-for-3. Babbitt and Kenedee Jamerson each recorded two hits for the Matadors.

CSUN-MISSOURI
The Tigers, who received votes in both preseason top 25 polls, defeated CSUN 19-10 in the Friday nightcap.

Missouri scored three times in the top of the second inning to break the seal. Amanda Sanchez homered to lead off the top of the third for the Tigers to increase the lead. Missouri scored three times in the fourth before charting one more in the fifth.

Horvath homered in the bottom of the third to get the Matadors on the board. CSUN's five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth was highlighted by Megan Stevens' grand slam home run. Green followed that up with a solo blast for an 8-6 score. The Tigers would add four runs in the sixth. A Trenity Edwards three-run home run was the featured part of a seven-run outburst for Missouri in the seventh.

Stevens became the 37th CSUN player to hit two home runs in a game in the bottom of the seventh when she hit a two-run blast. Pinch-hitter Ty Cueva came up next and smacked a homer that further reduced the Tigers' advantage. Cueva's home run was the fifth of the night for the Matadors and marked the fourth time in a game that CSUN hit five home runs as a team. Julianna Martinez doubled next and came around on a Jocelin Soto double to create the 19-10 score.

The teams combined for 29 runs and 29 hits (16 for Missouri, 13 for CSUN). Sanchez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, her home run, and three runs scored. Regan Nash, Gabby Garrison, Kolby Romaine, and Tajiah Ellison each posted two hits for Missouri. Stevens drove in a total of six runs, one away from the Matadors' school mark. Green and Soto both tallied two hits.

"We made some good adjustments at the plate," Flowers said. "It was nice seeing how we matched up against ranked team. We feel good about where we can grow moving forward."

The Matadors (0-2) resume Kajikawa Classic play on Saturday when CSUN faces Stanford at 1:15 p.m. and Seattle U at 4:15 p.m.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

Players Mentioned

Kira Cauley

Ty Cueva

Savannah Horvath

Kenedee Jamerson

Julianna Martinez

Jocelin Soto

Megan Stevens