Sunday, March 19
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
3:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
10-13, 2-1
2
at
1
Cal Poly
8-10, 1-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
CSUN
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
3
1
Cal Poly
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
5
0
Photo by: Braden Villanueva
Alemania's 7th Inning Home Run Lifts CSUN Past Cal Poly 2-1
3/19/2023 5:53:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.—In a game in which all the runs were scored in the seventh inning, CSUN defeated Cal Poly 2-1 Sunday afternoon in Big West softball action at Bob Janssen Field.
After recording only one hit in game one on Saturday against Isabella Alonso, the Mustangs' (8-10, 1-2 Big West) leadoff hitter, Jessica Clements, posted a single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. She advanced to third before being stranded in scoring position.
Sophia Ramuno was one over the minimum through the first three innings for the Mustangs in the circle. Mikayla Carman singled to right center to lead off the top of the fourth. Kaylee Escutia followed with an infield single. Gizella Vargas Sandoval sacrificed both runners up a base with a bunt back to Ramuno. Pinch-hitter Maddie Padilla reached on a fielder's choice as Carman was retired at third. Maiya Alemania fouled out to end the inning.
Alonso retired eight consecutive batters before Juju Sargent led off the bottom of the fourth with a single through the left side. With one out, Sargent stole second. Then, Alonso batted Mylina Garza to a 13-pitch at-bat, resulting in a grounder that Vinessa Nunez fielded at short. Nunez threw out Sargent at third as Garza reached first.
Kai Barrett worked out the first walk of the series against Alonso to bring up Caroline Allman. Allman walked to load the bases. Allie Gardiner relieved Alonso. Her first batter was Kiara Blanchard. Blanchard flew out to left on Gardiner's second pitch to keep the game scoreless.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Xiara Perez worked out an eight-pitch walk against Gardiner. Clements reached on a 6-4 fielder's choice to short that retired Perez, but she advanced to second on a CSUN error to move into scoring position. Sargent flew out to right for the third out. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Garza doubled to left center. Barrett flew out, but Garza did not advance on the play. Then, Allman walked on a 3-2 Gardiner pitch. Blanchard's shot to second was fielded by a diving Carys Murakami who nabbed the ball and threw it onto first for the final out.
Ramuno retired seven in a row before hitting Vargas Sandoval to begin the seventh. Kennedy Gustin pinch-ran for Vargas Sandoval as Kylie Galindo came to the plate. Galindo attempted to put down a sacrifice bunt. Instead, she popped up to third, where Garza made a diving catch for the first out. Gustin stole second as Alemania ran the count to 3-2. Ramuno hung a breaking pitch over the plate, and Alemania (a redshirt sophomore) took advantage as she smacked her first home run.
Gardiner struck out Perez to begin the bottom of the seventh. Kiara Diaz singled up the middle. Clements doubled down the left field line to plate Diaz. After going down 0-2 in the count, Sargent worked out a walk. Barnett flew out to right, but the runners could not tag up on the play. Lauryn Carranco relieved Gardiner. On her second pitch, Garza hit a grounder to Murakami at second. She tossed to Nunez to secure the victory for the Matadors.
The three CSUN pitchers combined on a five-hitter, with Gardiner picking up the win and Carranco charting her first save. Ramuno tossed a complete-game three-hitter. She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
CSUN took the series in San Luis Obispo for the first time since 2016 when the Matadors won 2-of-3 games against the Mustangs. CSUN has won five of the last six against Cal Poly and leads the all-time series 89-59-1. Sunday's victory puts CSUN four away from 1,500 in the program's history, as the Matadors are 13th in Division I in wins with 1,496.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Today was a tough battle. But, this is what we love about conference play, and I am proud of this team and the resilience they showed."
"Today wasn't an easy one, and they continued to fight from the first to the last. We talked about being together from the first pitch until the last. From our huge defensive plays to Maiya's clutch two-run home run."
"Our pitching staff did a great job, and it was a huge moment for Lauryn to come in and get the last out. We discussed needing the whole team, and you never know when your number will be called. I thought we showed that today."
"Overall, it was a great way to start conference and take the series on the road. We are ready to get home and play on our field this week."
UP NEXT
CSUN (10-13, 2-1 Big West) plays at home for the first time in 2023 next week when the Matadors host Hawai'i (19-10, 2-1 Big West) on Friday (3 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m. doubleheader).
Next week's games are part of CSUN's Alumni Weekend, culminating in the first Gary Torgeson Golf Tournament next Sunday at Los Robles Golf Course in Thousand Oaks.
~#UniteTheValley~
After recording only one hit in game one on Saturday against Isabella Alonso, the Mustangs' (8-10, 1-2 Big West) leadoff hitter, Jessica Clements, posted a single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first. She advanced to third before being stranded in scoring position.
Sophia Ramuno was one over the minimum through the first three innings for the Mustangs in the circle. Mikayla Carman singled to right center to lead off the top of the fourth. Kaylee Escutia followed with an infield single. Gizella Vargas Sandoval sacrificed both runners up a base with a bunt back to Ramuno. Pinch-hitter Maddie Padilla reached on a fielder's choice as Carman was retired at third. Maiya Alemania fouled out to end the inning.
Alonso retired eight consecutive batters before Juju Sargent led off the bottom of the fourth with a single through the left side. With one out, Sargent stole second. Then, Alonso batted Mylina Garza to a 13-pitch at-bat, resulting in a grounder that Vinessa Nunez fielded at short. Nunez threw out Sargent at third as Garza reached first.
Kai Barrett worked out the first walk of the series against Alonso to bring up Caroline Allman. Allman walked to load the bases. Allie Gardiner relieved Alonso. Her first batter was Kiara Blanchard. Blanchard flew out to left on Gardiner's second pitch to keep the game scoreless.
With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Xiara Perez worked out an eight-pitch walk against Gardiner. Clements reached on a 6-4 fielder's choice to short that retired Perez, but she advanced to second on a CSUN error to move into scoring position. Sargent flew out to right for the third out. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Garza doubled to left center. Barrett flew out, but Garza did not advance on the play. Then, Allman walked on a 3-2 Gardiner pitch. Blanchard's shot to second was fielded by a diving Carys Murakami who nabbed the ball and threw it onto first for the final out.
Ramuno retired seven in a row before hitting Vargas Sandoval to begin the seventh. Kennedy Gustin pinch-ran for Vargas Sandoval as Kylie Galindo came to the plate. Galindo attempted to put down a sacrifice bunt. Instead, she popped up to third, where Garza made a diving catch for the first out. Gustin stole second as Alemania ran the count to 3-2. Ramuno hung a breaking pitch over the plate, and Alemania (a redshirt sophomore) took advantage as she smacked her first home run.
Gardiner struck out Perez to begin the bottom of the seventh. Kiara Diaz singled up the middle. Clements doubled down the left field line to plate Diaz. After going down 0-2 in the count, Sargent worked out a walk. Barnett flew out to right, but the runners could not tag up on the play. Lauryn Carranco relieved Gardiner. On her second pitch, Garza hit a grounder to Murakami at second. She tossed to Nunez to secure the victory for the Matadors.
The three CSUN pitchers combined on a five-hitter, with Gardiner picking up the win and Carranco charting her first save. Ramuno tossed a complete-game three-hitter. She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
CSUN took the series in San Luis Obispo for the first time since 2016 when the Matadors won 2-of-3 games against the Mustangs. CSUN has won five of the last six against Cal Poly and leads the all-time series 89-59-1. Sunday's victory puts CSUN four away from 1,500 in the program's history, as the Matadors are 13th in Division I in wins with 1,496.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Today was a tough battle. But, this is what we love about conference play, and I am proud of this team and the resilience they showed."
"Today wasn't an easy one, and they continued to fight from the first to the last. We talked about being together from the first pitch until the last. From our huge defensive plays to Maiya's clutch two-run home run."
"Our pitching staff did a great job, and it was a huge moment for Lauryn to come in and get the last out. We discussed needing the whole team, and you never know when your number will be called. I thought we showed that today."
"Overall, it was a great way to start conference and take the series on the road. We are ready to get home and play on our field this week."
UP NEXT
CSUN (10-13, 2-1 Big West) plays at home for the first time in 2023 next week when the Matadors host Hawai'i (19-10, 2-1 Big West) on Friday (3 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m. doubleheader).
Next week's games are part of CSUN's Alumni Weekend, culminating in the first Gary Torgeson Golf Tournament next Sunday at Los Robles Golf Course in Thousand Oaks.
~#UniteTheValley~
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gardiner, Allie (2-2)
L: Ramuno, Sophia (5-6)
S: Carranco, Lauryn (1)
Batting:
HR: Alemania, Maiya 1
RBI: Alemania, Maiya 2
SH: Vargas Sandoval, Gizella 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gustin , Kennedy 1 ; Alemania, Maiya 1
SB: Gustin , Kennedy 1 ; Padilla , Maddie 1
HBP: Vargas Sandoval, Gizella 1 ; Whatman, Shaylan 1
Batting:
2B: Clements, Jessica 1 ; Garza, Mylina 1
RBI: Clements, Jessica 1
SH: Sargent, Juju 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Diaz, Xiara 1
SB: Sargent, Juju 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
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/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
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OF
/ SoftballINF
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INF
/ Softball
C
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INF
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