California State University at Northridge
UC Riverside
CSUN Hosts UC Riverside Next
4/16/2024 1:42:00 PM | Softball
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STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
CSUN (18-20, 2-13 Big West) returns home to battle UC Riverside (12-23, 6-9 Big West) at Matador Diamond. The three-game series will open with a double header beginning on Friday, Apr. 19, at 1 p.m. The Matadors and Highlanders will wrap the series up on Saturday, Apr. 20, at 1 p.m.
Tune in on ESPN+ and on @CSUNSoftball on Twitter for in-game updates. All games will have live stats. The links for the live stream and stats will be available on GoMatadors.com.
LAST IN THE BATTER'S BOX
Game One
UC Davis took the game with a 3-1 win. The Aggies struck first as they scored in the bottom of the first inning off a fly out into left field. The Matadors tried to strike back as Kylie Galindo hit a double into left field but was unable to make it home. UC Davis tried to keep their momentum going in the bottom of the second, but Carranco retired the Aggies after giving up a single. UC Davis didn't fold as they broke through CSUN's pitching in the bottom of the third off a double to bring a runner in and raise the score to 2-0. The Matadors answered at the top of the fourth as Galindo sent the ball flying down the middle to bring in Mikayla Carman. UC Davis returned the favor in the bottom of the fourth with another single to bring the Aggies' lead to 3-1. The rest of the game didn't see another score as both teams' pitching staff held strong defensively.Â
Game Two
The Matadors started strong as they threatened to score in the top of the first inning. Carman and Galindo both made it to base off a single, but neither were able to make it home. The Aggies tried to score themselves, but Isabella Alonso quickly shut them down. CSUN tried to strike again in the top of the second but were unable to score. UC Davis made it on the board first again off a homerun at the bottom of the inning to take the lead at 1-0. CSUN didn't flinch as Carys Murakami hit a double to bring in Galindo and Alexis Chavez. The Matadors took the lead at 2-1 in the top of the third inning.Â
UC Davis answered quickly in the bottom of the third as the Aggies took the lead back 4-2 off a pair of doubles and a single. Carranco stepped into the circle next as a reliever. The Aggies continued their momentum with a single to bring in another runner as the deficit climbed to 5-2. UC Davis continued to score with another single to bring in two runners. The Matadors refused to fold as Carman hit a single to drive in Shaylan Whatman and bring CSUN to within 7-3. Alexa Ortiz stepped into the circle next in the bottom of the fourth inning as she retired three batters in a row. The Matadors managed to score another run in the top of the seventh as Raegan Jackson made it home off a fielder's choice, but the Aggies took the game 7-4.
Game ThreeÂ
Alonso started strong on the mound as she didn't allow a single hit from the Aggies until the fourth inning. Freijanes gave the Matadors an early lead at the top of the second inning with a home run that she belted over the left field wall. It was a pitcher's duel over the next two innings, as neither team gave up a hit until UC Davis broke through with a single down the right field line. The Matadors, however, would quickly shut down the Aggie threat. CSUN threatened to score at the top of the fifth as Kennedy Gustin reached third base off a single from Lulu Sanchez, but she was left stranded after a strikeout. The Aggies threatened in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases with two outs. But the Matadors escaped the jam as they got the final out to keep their 1-0 lead. UC Davis would tie the game at the bottom of the sixth with a triple into right field to bring in the tying run. The Aggies would take the 2-1 lead in the same inning when another runner came in on a wild pitch.Â
ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE
The Highlanders are coming off a 4-2 loss to Hawai'i after losing the series 2-1. UC Riverside has added eight freshmen to its roster this season. Senior Kat Montuya leads the Highlanders in batting average (.357), home runs (5), and RBIs (18). Sixth year Nadia Witt leads the team in runs (22) and hits (40). Junior pitcher Maddie Heinlin has pitched for 75.1 innings and gathered 38 strikeouts while holding a 4.78 ERA. Head coach Nikki Palmer is in her eighth season at the helm. CSUN leads series history with 97 wins and 18 losses. The last time the Matadors faced the Highlanders was in 2023 when CSUN won the series 2-1.
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