Photo by: Will Navarro
CSUN Softball Preview; Part 1; Pitching & Catching
2/3/2023 11:05:00 AM | Softball
The CSUN Softball team opens its 46th season at the SDSU Season Kickoff Feb. 9-11. We begin our 2023 preview with the Matadors' pitchers and catchers.
PITCHING
CSUN returns three letterwinners in the circle; grad student Allie Gardiner, senior Kayla Dominguez, and sophomore Alexis Martinez.
Gardiner was the team leader in wins a year ago with nine (9-4). Her three saves led the squad and tied for the league lead in the category with four other players. Gardiner finished the regular season 33rd in Division I in saves. She was second on the team in ERA (3.46), second in appearances (29), and third in innings pitched (64.2),
Dominguez pitched in nine games, all in relief last season. She tossed 17 innings, striking nine while posting a 4.94 ERA.
Martinez was selected Big West Conference Softball Freshman of the Week on Feb. 21, 2022, after striking out 18 in 15 innings as opponents batted .182 against her during her three appearances in the San Diego State Campbell/Cartier Classic. Martinez struck out a season-high 12 (the most by a CSUN pitcher in a game in three seasons) against Southern Utah on Feb. 18, 2022. She was selected Big West Freshman of the Week for the second time on Mar. 7, 2022, after posting a three-hitter against Sacred Heart and a two-hitter against California Baptist. Martinez was second on the team in wins with eight (8-10) and innings pitched (110.1). She appeared in 26 games, starting 21 times. Martinez finished the regular season 52nd in Division I in walks allowed per seven innings (1.40).
The Matadors brought in three freshman pitchers for the 2023 season. Isabella Alonso comes to CSUN from Long Beach Poly High School, where she was named 2021 Moore League Pitcher of the Year. As a senior, Alonso was a 2022 first-team Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team member.
Lauryn Carranco is a 2022 graduate of Clovis High School, earning SBLive's California first-team All-State team honors as a senior. Carranco led Clovis High School to the 2022 Central Section Division I title and the NorCal Regional Division I finals. She tied for the lead in the state in wins (25) with CSUN teammate Riley Wickum.
Wickum joins the Matadors from Sutter Union High School. Wickum was named SBLive All-Northern Section Player of the Year, SBLive California first-team All-State, and SBLive Northern Section MVP as a senior. She led Sutter Union to a 31-1 record, the Northern Section Division 4 Championship, and the CIF Division 3 Northern Regional title in 2022. Wickum went 25-1 with 303 strikeouts in 2022. Wickum allowed only nine earned runs in 154 innings pitched for a 0.41 ERA. Offensively, Wickum hit .470, with two home runs, 35 RBI, 16 doubles, and a 1.170 OPS as a senior, which could lead to time in the field when she is not pitching for CSUN.
"We are very excited with the depth we have In the circle this season," said CSUN head coach Charlotte Morgan. "From having experience and some new freshmen, they bring very different looks in the circle. This group of pitchers has been awesome to work with and develop at this level. They are still learning along the way but are all in with our program and standards. Every day brings new challenges, and they are always ready to work hard and focus on what they each need to do to help this team succeed. The future is so bright for this group of pitchers."
CATCHING
With the departure of Kennedi Sorensen from behind the plate, the Matadors will look to a talented group of players to catch this season. Senior Jordan Kaeka has the most experience. A three-year letterwinner, Kaeka has appeared in 32 games for the Matadors during her career.
Sophomores Kylie Galindo and Samantha Kwiatkowski saw some action for CSUN last season. Galindo played in 18 games and started three times. She recorded four hits in 23 at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring once. Kwiatkowski appeared in 26 games primarily as a pinch-runner, starting once at catcher. She recorded one hit in 20 at-bats, drove in one run, and scored times.
The Matadors have three freshmen who can help behind the plate this season.
Macy Mohrlock was named 2021 and 2022 Eastern League Player of the Year and 2021 and 2022 team MVP for Clairemont High School. Maddie Padilla was chosen honorable mention All-Region for Queen Creek High School in Arizona as a senior after hitting .421 with four home runs, 25 RBI, 14 runs, and five doubles. Gizella Vargas Sandoval is a utility player who earned second-team All-City honors as a junior at John F. Kennedy High School. She also has experience playing for the Junior Mexican National Team.
"This group of catchers is the backbone of our staff," Morgan said. "They all have developed and continue to work on growing their voice and connection with everyone on staff. With all the pitchers being very different, they have had to spend time getting to know each and who they need. They also were learning to lead the team on defense and were excited to see all their hard work pay off this season. We will have many options in the circle and behind the plate, and they will have to compete daily."
PITCHING
CSUN returns three letterwinners in the circle; grad student Allie Gardiner, senior Kayla Dominguez, and sophomore Alexis Martinez.
Gardiner was the team leader in wins a year ago with nine (9-4). Her three saves led the squad and tied for the league lead in the category with four other players. Gardiner finished the regular season 33rd in Division I in saves. She was second on the team in ERA (3.46), second in appearances (29), and third in innings pitched (64.2),
Dominguez pitched in nine games, all in relief last season. She tossed 17 innings, striking nine while posting a 4.94 ERA.
Martinez was selected Big West Conference Softball Freshman of the Week on Feb. 21, 2022, after striking out 18 in 15 innings as opponents batted .182 against her during her three appearances in the San Diego State Campbell/Cartier Classic. Martinez struck out a season-high 12 (the most by a CSUN pitcher in a game in three seasons) against Southern Utah on Feb. 18, 2022. She was selected Big West Freshman of the Week for the second time on Mar. 7, 2022, after posting a three-hitter against Sacred Heart and a two-hitter against California Baptist. Martinez was second on the team in wins with eight (8-10) and innings pitched (110.1). She appeared in 26 games, starting 21 times. Martinez finished the regular season 52nd in Division I in walks allowed per seven innings (1.40).
The Matadors brought in three freshman pitchers for the 2023 season. Isabella Alonso comes to CSUN from Long Beach Poly High School, where she was named 2021 Moore League Pitcher of the Year. As a senior, Alonso was a 2022 first-team Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team member.
Lauryn Carranco is a 2022 graduate of Clovis High School, earning SBLive's California first-team All-State team honors as a senior. Carranco led Clovis High School to the 2022 Central Section Division I title and the NorCal Regional Division I finals. She tied for the lead in the state in wins (25) with CSUN teammate Riley Wickum.
Wickum joins the Matadors from Sutter Union High School. Wickum was named SBLive All-Northern Section Player of the Year, SBLive California first-team All-State, and SBLive Northern Section MVP as a senior. She led Sutter Union to a 31-1 record, the Northern Section Division 4 Championship, and the CIF Division 3 Northern Regional title in 2022. Wickum went 25-1 with 303 strikeouts in 2022. Wickum allowed only nine earned runs in 154 innings pitched for a 0.41 ERA. Offensively, Wickum hit .470, with two home runs, 35 RBI, 16 doubles, and a 1.170 OPS as a senior, which could lead to time in the field when she is not pitching for CSUN.
"We are very excited with the depth we have In the circle this season," said CSUN head coach Charlotte Morgan. "From having experience and some new freshmen, they bring very different looks in the circle. This group of pitchers has been awesome to work with and develop at this level. They are still learning along the way but are all in with our program and standards. Every day brings new challenges, and they are always ready to work hard and focus on what they each need to do to help this team succeed. The future is so bright for this group of pitchers."
CATCHING
With the departure of Kennedi Sorensen from behind the plate, the Matadors will look to a talented group of players to catch this season. Senior Jordan Kaeka has the most experience. A three-year letterwinner, Kaeka has appeared in 32 games for the Matadors during her career.
Sophomores Kylie Galindo and Samantha Kwiatkowski saw some action for CSUN last season. Galindo played in 18 games and started three times. She recorded four hits in 23 at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring once. Kwiatkowski appeared in 26 games primarily as a pinch-runner, starting once at catcher. She recorded one hit in 20 at-bats, drove in one run, and scored times.
The Matadors have three freshmen who can help behind the plate this season.
Macy Mohrlock was named 2021 and 2022 Eastern League Player of the Year and 2021 and 2022 team MVP for Clairemont High School. Maddie Padilla was chosen honorable mention All-Region for Queen Creek High School in Arizona as a senior after hitting .421 with four home runs, 25 RBI, 14 runs, and five doubles. Gizella Vargas Sandoval is a utility player who earned second-team All-City honors as a junior at John F. Kennedy High School. She also has experience playing for the Junior Mexican National Team.
"This group of catchers is the backbone of our staff," Morgan said. "They all have developed and continue to work on growing their voice and connection with everyone on staff. With all the pitchers being very different, they have had to spend time getting to know each and who they need. They also were learning to lead the team on defense and were excited to see all their hard work pay off this season. We will have many options in the circle and behind the plate, and they will have to compete daily."
~#UniteTheValley~
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