Friday, February 16
Northridge, Calif.
11:00 am
California State University at Northridge
6-1
3
vs
2
Pacific
1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Pacific
0
1
0
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0
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2
5
2
CSUN
0
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2
0
1
3
5
2
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Defeats Pacific and Utah Tech
2/16/2024 6:05:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN Softball beat Pacific and Utah Tech on Saturday at the Matador Diamond Classic. The Matadors beat the Tigers 3-2 before defeating the Trailblazers 8-7 in eight innings. Shaylan Whatman led the team in runs with three in the game against Utah Tech. CSUN has now won seven straight games.
HOW IT HAPPENED
vs. Pacific
The Matadors started strong as they didn't allow the Tigers to score any runs in the first inning. Pacific didn't stay down for long as the Tigers scored the first run after a CSUN error. CSUN didn't allow another run through the third and fourth innings. Pacific wouldn't score again until the top of the fifth inning when Olivia Silvestre hit an RBI double. The Matadors returned the favor at the bottom of the fifth when Lulu Sanchez and Kaylee Escutia scored on an error from the Tigers. CSUN held strong through the sixth and seventh innings, refusing to allow another run to be scored. Sydney Freijanes wasted no time at the bottom of the seventh as she singled to bring in Escutia for the game-winning run.
vs. Utah Tech
The Trailblazers came in ready to go as they scored four runs in the top of the first to take the lead. The Matadors didn't flinch as they quickly fired back. Mikayla Carman launched a double to bring in Whatman. Freijanes kept the ball rolling with a single sent blasting into center field to bring Carman and Alexis Chavez home. Utah Tech prevented the Matadors from getting closer in the bottom of the first. CSUN didn't allow the Trailblazers to pull further ahead as all three hitters were grounded out. Kylie Galindo then evened the score with a single to bring Whatman home. Escutia quickly followed with another single to bring Carman home to take the lead 5-4 through two innings.
The Matadors kept their momentum going in the third when they loaded the bases with one out. Carman added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to increase CSUN's lead as Vinessa Nunez made it home. Utah Tech refused to fold as they scored three runs to take back the lead at 7-6 in the top of the fourth inning. The Matadors threatened to score but were unable to in the bottom of the inning. Carranco made sure not to allow the Trailblazers to score a run. Whatman stepped up to the plate next in the bottom of the fifth and sent the ball exploding out of the diamond for a home run to tie the game. CSUN and Utah Tech battled hard, but neither would be able to score in the next two innings as the game went into extra innings. In the eighth, Kylie Gustin stole third base with two outs before she scored the winning run on a Freijanes single.
NOTES OF THE GAME
• The Matadors' record improves to 7-1. Pacific moves to 1-8 and Utah Tech moves to 2-5.
• Shaylan Whatman recorded her second home run this season.
• Sydney Freijanes led in RBIs with five in two games as she made both game-winning hits to bring in a run each.
• Lulu Sanchez led the Matadors in hits with four total across both games.
• Freshman Alexia Ramirez made her debut as she pitched for 4.2 innings against Pacific. She allowed five hits and two runs. Lauryn Carranco finished the game as she pitched for 2.1 innings and got three strikeouts.
• Alexa Ortiz started the game as she pitched for 0.1 innings before Isabella Alonso stepped into the circle and pitched 3.0 innings. Carranco finished the game with Utah Tech and threw 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and gathering two strikeouts.
• The last time CSUN had a 7-1 record to start a season was in 2015 when the Matadors eventually earned an NCAA appearance.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Any time you can get a win is great. It wasn't pretty, but I was really proud of the group. They came back and they responded."
UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up the CSUN Matador Diamond Classic with one final game against Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 17, at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
HOW IT HAPPENED
vs. Pacific
The Matadors started strong as they didn't allow the Tigers to score any runs in the first inning. Pacific didn't stay down for long as the Tigers scored the first run after a CSUN error. CSUN didn't allow another run through the third and fourth innings. Pacific wouldn't score again until the top of the fifth inning when Olivia Silvestre hit an RBI double. The Matadors returned the favor at the bottom of the fifth when Lulu Sanchez and Kaylee Escutia scored on an error from the Tigers. CSUN held strong through the sixth and seventh innings, refusing to allow another run to be scored. Sydney Freijanes wasted no time at the bottom of the seventh as she singled to bring in Escutia for the game-winning run.
vs. Utah Tech
The Trailblazers came in ready to go as they scored four runs in the top of the first to take the lead. The Matadors didn't flinch as they quickly fired back. Mikayla Carman launched a double to bring in Whatman. Freijanes kept the ball rolling with a single sent blasting into center field to bring Carman and Alexis Chavez home. Utah Tech prevented the Matadors from getting closer in the bottom of the first. CSUN didn't allow the Trailblazers to pull further ahead as all three hitters were grounded out. Kylie Galindo then evened the score with a single to bring Whatman home. Escutia quickly followed with another single to bring Carman home to take the lead 5-4 through two innings.
The Matadors kept their momentum going in the third when they loaded the bases with one out. Carman added to the lead with a sacrifice fly to increase CSUN's lead as Vinessa Nunez made it home. Utah Tech refused to fold as they scored three runs to take back the lead at 7-6 in the top of the fourth inning. The Matadors threatened to score but were unable to in the bottom of the inning. Carranco made sure not to allow the Trailblazers to score a run. Whatman stepped up to the plate next in the bottom of the fifth and sent the ball exploding out of the diamond for a home run to tie the game. CSUN and Utah Tech battled hard, but neither would be able to score in the next two innings as the game went into extra innings. In the eighth, Kylie Gustin stole third base with two outs before she scored the winning run on a Freijanes single.
NOTES OF THE GAME
• The Matadors' record improves to 7-1. Pacific moves to 1-8 and Utah Tech moves to 2-5.
• Shaylan Whatman recorded her second home run this season.
• Sydney Freijanes led in RBIs with five in two games as she made both game-winning hits to bring in a run each.
• Lulu Sanchez led the Matadors in hits with four total across both games.
• Freshman Alexia Ramirez made her debut as she pitched for 4.2 innings against Pacific. She allowed five hits and two runs. Lauryn Carranco finished the game as she pitched for 2.1 innings and got three strikeouts.
• Alexa Ortiz started the game as she pitched for 0.1 innings before Isabella Alonso stepped into the circle and pitched 3.0 innings. Carranco finished the game with Utah Tech and threw 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and gathering two strikeouts.
• The last time CSUN had a 7-1 record to start a season was in 2015 when the Matadors eventually earned an NCAA appearance.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Any time you can get a win is great. It wasn't pretty, but I was really proud of the group. They came back and they responded."
Listen to Head Coach Charlotte Morgan's thoughts after the Matadors win two games!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/4GqyWigqJy
— CSUN Softball (@CSUNSoftball) February 17, 2024
UP NEXT
The Matadors wrap up the CSUN Matador Diamond Classic with one final game against Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 17, at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carranco, Lauryn (4-1)
L: Tyler Denhart (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Baylee Howley 1
RBI: LB Kahahawai-Kekona 1 ; Carly Eldredge 1 ; Marissa Rubio 1 ; Baylee Howley 2 ; Brooklyn Dowdle 2
SH: Marissa Rubio 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LB Kahahawai-Kekona 1 ; Carly Eldredge 1 ; Gabi Giroux 1 ; Baylee Howley 1 ; Ellie Evans 1 ; Maka Sonognini 1 ; Sadie Gardner 1
SB: Maka Sonognini 1
HBP: Gabi Giroux 1
Batting:
2B: Carman, Mikayla 1
HR: Whatman, Shaylan 1
RBI: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Carman, Mikayla 2 ; Galindo, Kylie 1 ; Escutia, Kaylee 1 ; Freijanes, Sydney 3
SF: Carman, Mikayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whatman, Shaylan 3 ; Chavez, Alexis 1 ; Carman, Mikayla 2 ; Gustin , Kennedy 1 ; Nunez, Vinessa 1
SB: Gustin , Kennedy 1
HBP: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Chavez, Alexis 1 ; Galindo, Kylie 3
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
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