Friday, February 23
Cathedral City, Calif.
10:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
10-1
6
vs
4
Seattle U
5-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
CSUN
4
1
1
0
0
0
0
6
10
2
Seattle U
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
4
11
0
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Splits Opening Games of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
2/23/2024 4:03:00 PM | Softball
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—CSUN opened the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with two games Friday at Des Moines field. The Matadors took the first game against Seattle University by the score of 6-4, before falling to the University of Utah in the second game, 8-0 in five innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
vs. Seattle
CSUN started strong as Shaylan Whatman hit a double to open the game against the Redhawks. Alexis Chavez followed with a grounder to bring Whatman home and score the first run of the game. The Matadors continued their momentum with more batters getting on base. Kaylee Escutia struck next with a 3-run homer to bring in Lulu Sanchez and Mikayla Carman. The Matadors kept the runs coming into the second inning as Chavez grounded again to bring in Vinessa Nunez. CSUN held its 5-0 lead until the bottom of the second when the Redhawks scored a run.
The Matadors didn't bat an eye as Nunez hit another single to bring in Jadyn Nielsen at the top of the third inning. The Redhawks came back in the bottom of the third, scoring twice. Neither team scored through the fourth inning as the pitchers stayed strong. Seattle found an opening as the Redhawks scored two more to trim the CSUN lead to 6-4 at the bottom of the fifth. Lauryn Carranco kept her cool as she stopped the Redhawks from scoring in the sixth inning. Seattle threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Carranco shut the Redhawks down as she struck out the last batter to earn the win.
vs. University of Utah
CSUN looked to continue its momentum into game two as the Matadors stepped up to the plate first. The Matadors and Utes remained scoreless in the first inning. Utah would be the first to score in the second inning. The Utes quickly took the lead with a homerun, a double to bring in two runners, and a grounder to bring in a final runner.
The Matadors were itching to turn the tide, but were unable to get on the scoreboard. The Utes scored another run in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 5-0. The Utes then blew open the game, scoring three runs to open up an 8-0 lead. The Matadors had one more chance to score but were unable to as Utah claimed the game.
NOTES OF THE GAME
CSUN's overall record is 10-2. Seattle's record after falling to CSUN drops to 5-6. Utah improves to 6-4 on the season.
Carranco pitched a complete game in the opener against Seattle, gathering five strikeouts while allowing four runs on seven hits.
Escutia led the team in RBI with three against Seattle U.
Isabella Alonso and Alexis Ortiz both pitched two innings against Utah. Alonso allowed five hits and four runs. Ortiz allowed four hits and four runs.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Proud of what they've done. Now it's time to keep getting to work and make our adjustments for tomorrow."
UP NEXT
The Matadors continue the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with two more games on Saturday, Feb. 26. CSUN takes on Bethune-Cookman at 9:30 a.m. and Rutgers at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on FloSoftball.
#GoMatadors
HOW IT HAPPENED
vs. Seattle
CSUN started strong as Shaylan Whatman hit a double to open the game against the Redhawks. Alexis Chavez followed with a grounder to bring Whatman home and score the first run of the game. The Matadors continued their momentum with more batters getting on base. Kaylee Escutia struck next with a 3-run homer to bring in Lulu Sanchez and Mikayla Carman. The Matadors kept the runs coming into the second inning as Chavez grounded again to bring in Vinessa Nunez. CSUN held its 5-0 lead until the bottom of the second when the Redhawks scored a run.
The Matadors didn't bat an eye as Nunez hit another single to bring in Jadyn Nielsen at the top of the third inning. The Redhawks came back in the bottom of the third, scoring twice. Neither team scored through the fourth inning as the pitchers stayed strong. Seattle found an opening as the Redhawks scored two more to trim the CSUN lead to 6-4 at the bottom of the fifth. Lauryn Carranco kept her cool as she stopped the Redhawks from scoring in the sixth inning. Seattle threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Carranco shut the Redhawks down as she struck out the last batter to earn the win.
vs. University of Utah
CSUN looked to continue its momentum into game two as the Matadors stepped up to the plate first. The Matadors and Utes remained scoreless in the first inning. Utah would be the first to score in the second inning. The Utes quickly took the lead with a homerun, a double to bring in two runners, and a grounder to bring in a final runner.
The Matadors were itching to turn the tide, but were unable to get on the scoreboard. The Utes scored another run in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 5-0. The Utes then blew open the game, scoring three runs to open up an 8-0 lead. The Matadors had one more chance to score but were unable to as Utah claimed the game.
NOTES OF THE GAME
CSUN's overall record is 10-2. Seattle's record after falling to CSUN drops to 5-6. Utah improves to 6-4 on the season.
Carranco pitched a complete game in the opener against Seattle, gathering five strikeouts while allowing four runs on seven hits.
Escutia led the team in RBI with three against Seattle U.
Isabella Alonso and Alexis Ortiz both pitched two innings against Utah. Alonso allowed five hits and four runs. Ortiz allowed four hits and four runs.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Proud of what they've done. Now it's time to keep getting to work and make our adjustments for tomorrow."
Head coach @CharMorgan34 thoughts after both games today!#GoMatadors pic.twitter.com/oODU2lrEUc
— CSUN Softball (@CSUNSoftball) February 24, 2024
UP NEXT
The Matadors continue the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with two more games on Saturday, Feb. 26. CSUN takes on Bethune-Cookman at 9:30 a.m. and Rutgers at 2:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on FloSoftball.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: LADD (4-1)
L: Alonso, Isabella (3-1)
Batting:
2B: NELSEN 1
3B: DAYTON 1
HR: MELENDEZ 1
RBI: MELENDEZ 2 ; DAVISON 1 ; DAYTON 1 ; NELSEN 2 ; ORTIZ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DENNING 1 ; BELARDE 1 ; LEE 1 ; MELENDEZ 1 ; DAVISON 2 ; DAYTON 1 ; JIMENEZ 1
SB: DENNING 1 ; BELARDE 1 ; DAVISON 1
HBP: DAVISON 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
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