Saturday, February 17
Northridge, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
8-1
8
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Pacific
1-8
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4
5
R
H
E
Pacific
0
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CSUN
5
0
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8
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0
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Blanks Pacific, 8-0 for Eighth Straight Win
2/17/2024 2:10:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Freshman Alexa Ortiz tossed a five-inning shutout as the CSUN softball team defeated Pacific, 8-0 in five innings Saturday afternoon at Matador Diamond.
Ortiz (1-0) worked five innings, giving up just two hits as the Matadors won for the eighth time in nine games to open the season, the best start for a CSUN squad since 2015 when the Matadors opened 8-2. With eight straight wins, the Matadors also have their longest win streak since winning nine straight over the final two months of the 2023 season.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
After giving up a leadoff walk, Ortiz quickly shut down the threat with a pair of strikeouts with a runner in a scoring position. The Matadors then capitalized in the bottom of the first as Shaylan Whatman was hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball. Alexis Garcia then reached on an error by the Tigers second baseman, allowing Whatman to come around and score CSUN's first run.Â
Kaylee Escutia then singled to right moving Garcia around to third, before Sanchez walked to load the bases. Sydney Freijanes hit a ground ball to first that the Tigers turned into a force at home as the bases remained loaded. Raegan Jackson was then hit by a pitch, forcing Escutia home with the second run. Mackenzie Kila then drilled a line drive single to right that was misplayed by the Pacific right fielder and all three Matadors came in to score on the play as CSUN put up five runs in the frame.
Pacific would threaten in the top of the fifth as a pair of two-out singles put runners at first and second. But Ortiz induced a ground ball to get out of the inning unscathed. Freijanes opened the home half of the inning with a double to the wall in left before Jadyn Nielsen came on as a pinch runner. Nielsen moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a Jackson double down the right field line. Jackson advanced to third on a fly-out before Carys Murakami singled Jackson home to end the game.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"It was a great day, proud of them for coming out right from the start. I thought Alexa did a great job in the circle, not her best stuff yesterday so it was great to see her come out today and respond, so really proud of her. From the offensive side, really good hitting, came out quick and then cooled off a bit. But really proud of the at-bats, a lot of good two-strike at-bats. Overall, just really proud of them for putting a team away in five innings, we haven't been able to do that."
The Matadors will play their ninth home game over the first two weeks of the season next Wednesday (Feb. 21) as CSUN hosts Dayton at Matador Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., the game will stream on ESPN+.
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#GoMatadors
Ortiz (1-0) worked five innings, giving up just two hits as the Matadors won for the eighth time in nine games to open the season, the best start for a CSUN squad since 2015 when the Matadors opened 8-2. With eight straight wins, the Matadors also have their longest win streak since winning nine straight over the final two months of the 2023 season.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
After giving up a leadoff walk, Ortiz quickly shut down the threat with a pair of strikeouts with a runner in a scoring position. The Matadors then capitalized in the bottom of the first as Shaylan Whatman was hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball. Alexis Garcia then reached on an error by the Tigers second baseman, allowing Whatman to come around and score CSUN's first run.Â
Kaylee Escutia then singled to right moving Garcia around to third, before Sanchez walked to load the bases. Sydney Freijanes hit a ground ball to first that the Tigers turned into a force at home as the bases remained loaded. Raegan Jackson was then hit by a pitch, forcing Escutia home with the second run. Mackenzie Kila then drilled a line drive single to right that was misplayed by the Pacific right fielder and all three Matadors came in to score on the play as CSUN put up five runs in the frame.
Vinessa Nunez opened the home half of the fourth with a single and was run for by Jizzell Ruiz. Whatman delivered another single, moving Ruiz to second before Garcia loaded the bases with a single to left. Escutia would cash in CSUN's sixth run with a foul out down the left field line which scored Ruiz from third.Clutch Kila!
— CSUN Softball (@CSUNSoftball) February 17, 2024
CSUN leads Pacific 5-0 after one inning.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/wDcR0BZJEQ
Pacific would threaten in the top of the fifth as a pair of two-out singles put runners at first and second. But Ortiz induced a ground ball to get out of the inning unscathed. Freijanes opened the home half of the inning with a double to the wall in left before Jadyn Nielsen came on as a pinch runner. Nielsen moved to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a Jackson double down the right field line. Jackson advanced to third on a fly-out before Carys Murakami singled Jackson home to end the game.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"It was a great day, proud of them for coming out right from the start. I thought Alexa did a great job in the circle, not her best stuff yesterday so it was great to see her come out today and respond, so really proud of her. From the offensive side, really good hitting, came out quick and then cooled off a bit. But really proud of the at-bats, a lot of good two-strike at-bats. Overall, just really proud of them for putting a team away in five innings, we haven't been able to do that."
 UP NEXTÂHead Coach @CharMorgan34 breaks down another home win.#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/dIHqRkil0G
— CSUN Softball (@CSUNSoftball) February 17, 2024
The Matadors will play their ninth home game over the first two weeks of the season next Wednesday (Feb. 21) as CSUN hosts Dayton at Matador Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., the game will stream on ESPN+.
Â
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ortiz, Alexa (1-0)
L: Smith, Desiree (0-3)
Batting:
SH: Scully, Delaney 1
Base Running:
HBP: Silvestre, Olivia 1
Batting:
2B: Freijanes, Sydney 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 1
RBI: Escutia, Kaylee 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 2 ; Kila, Mackenzie 2 ; Murakami, Carys 1
SF: Escutia, Kaylee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Escutia, Kaylee 1 ; Sanchez, Lulu 1 ; Freijanes, Sydney 1 ; Nielsen, Jadyn 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 2 ; Ruiz, Jizzell 1
CS: Garcia, Alexis 1
HBP: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Sanchez, Lulu 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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