CSUN Heads To San Diego State's Campbell/Cartier Classic

Softball Notebook

NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The CSUN Softball team begins a 20-game road trip this week when the Matadors travel to the 31st annual Campbell/Cartier Classic. The tournament begins Thursday night when the Matadors face the host, San Diego State, at 6 p.m. There will be a video stream (no audio) of the game with a link on GoMatadors.com.

San Diego State opened 2022 by going 4-1 at the SDSU Kickoff Classic. The Aztecs defeated MTSU, UIC (twice), and Cal Poly while only losing 1-0 to Stanford. Isabella Espinoza went 7-for-15 during the tournament last week (.467) Mac Barbara was 7-of-17 with two home runs and four RBI for San Diego State.

All four SDSU pitchers recorded a win during the tournament with Allie Light and Dee Dee Hernandez each recording a save. Maggie Balint threw a team-high 13 innings, striking out 24. This is the 59th time that CSUN and San Diego State are playing softball with the Matadors leading the all-time series 37-20-1.

CSUN plays two games on Friday. The day begins with a 10 a.m. contest against Southern Utah. Friday ends against Army West Point at 3 p.m.

Southern Utah struggled at Arizona's Mike Candrea Classic last week, going 0-5 and being outscored 64-1 by No. 2 Alabama, No. 9 Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon State. Reily Williams was 4-for-10 for the Thunderbirds recording a lone Southern Utah run with a home run against Arizona. 48 of the 64 runs issued by the three Thunderbirds' pitchers were earned. CSUN is 29-0 lifetime against Southern Utah dating back to the start of the all-time series in 1988.

This week will mark the season opener for Army West Point. The Black Knights were 16-17 last season, finishing fourth in the Patriot League. Angelina Bebek, a Downey, Calif., native, is the top returning hitter for Army West Point (.353). Joilie Duong is the top returning pitcher for the Black Knights. She went 9-3 a year ago. This is the third meeting between CSUN and Army West Point. The Matadors won both matchups during the 2019 season in Northridge.

The Matadors' tournament stay wraps up on Saturday when CSUN will play California Baptist at 9 a.m. before concluding matters against by playing Southern Utah for the second time at 2 p.m.

California Baptist went 1-4 at Arizona State's Kajikawa Classic. The Lancers lost to No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 20 Duke, No. 21 Arizona State, and Utah. The lone CBU win came by an 8-2 count against Missouri State. Katelyn Mangrello went 7-for-14 at ASU with a pair of doubles. Makayla Jordan drove in a team-high five runs during the tournament. Jazmine Castenda was 1-1 in 11.2 innings in the circle for the Lancers. She struck out seven.

This is the third time that CSUN and California Baptist are playing softball. The teams split a doubleheader on Mar. 17, 2019, in Northridge. Both San Diego State and Southern Utah are former conference foes for the Matadors dating back to the time that all three were a part of the Western Athletic Conference.

CSUN went 2-3 to open the 2022 season last week. The Matadors fell 22-0 to No. 3 UCLA on Feb. 10. CSUN dropped a doubleheader to No. 12 Oregon 9-3 and 16-0 on Feb. 11. Grad transfer Allie Gardiner picked up the win in both ends of the Feb. 12 doubleheader against Nevada.

Gardiner threw a scoreless seventh inning in the 2-1 opening win against the Wolfpack. In the nightcap, Gardiner tossed the final four innings, giving up two hits, one run, and struck out three to earn the victory.

~#UniteTheValley~

CSUN Heads To San Diego State's Campbell/Cartier Classic

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Allie Gardiner