California State University at Northridge
#6 UCLA
CSUN Hosts No. 6 UCLA and UCSD
4/29/2024 1:24:00 PM | Softball
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STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE
CSUN (21-23, 5-16 Big West) returns home to host No. 6 UCLA (29-10, 13-4 Pac-12) before facing UC San Diego (15-29, 8-11 Big West) over the weekend at Matador Diamond. The Matadors battle the Bruins on Tuesday, Apr. 30, at 2 p.m. for a non-conference game. CSUN will then host UC San Diego for a three-game series slated to begin with a double header on Friday, May 3, at 1 p.m. The series will close on Saturday, May 4, with first pitch scheduled for 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
The Matadors came out swinging as Whatman hit a single into left field in the top of the first inning. Lulu Sanchez stepped up to the plate next and sent the ball flying down the right field line for a triple to bring in Whatman. Mikayla Carman followed with a single of her own to bring in Sanchez, giving CSUN a 2-0 lead. The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the inning with a home run to left field off the bat of Maya Williams. The Matadors would respond in the top of the second, as Whatman drilled a double to bring in Carys Murakami and Alexis Chavez. Sanchez followed with a double to bring in Whatman, increasing CSUN's lead to 5-1 lead. Cal State Bakersfield would cut the deficit to 5-2 when Aariana Harrison scored on an error by CSUN.Â
The game then turned into a pitching duel as Isabella Alonso and Anisa Reynolds kept the score the same through the third, fourth, and fifth innings. The Roadrunners got two runners on base at the top of the sixth before Lauryn Carranco stepped into the circle. CSU Bakersfield trimmed the CSUN lead to 5-3 off a single by Rylee Price, before the Matadors answered as Carman singled to bring in Murakami. The Roadrunners attempted a late rally as they scored once more, but the Matadors held off any further CSUB threats to win by a final score of 6-4.
Game Two
Carranco started for the Matadors, retiring Bakersfield in order in the bottom of the first. The Roadrunners didn't stay down for long as Logan-Ray Gaspar hit a home run to give CSUB a 2-0 lead. Carranco didn't flinch as she struck out the next three batters in a row to end the rally. The Matadors answered quickly at the top of the third inning as Jadyn Nielsen scored on a passed ball to bring CSUN within one at 2-1. The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the third as Hailey Brooks hit a home run over the center field wall to put Bakersfield up 3-1.
In the top of the fifth, CSUN's bats were singing as Jerzie Liana hit a single to second base to bring in Kennedy Gustin. Sanchez brought in the next run as she grounded out to drive in Liana and tie the score at 3-3. The Roadrunners threatened to score in the fifth and sixth innings, but Carranco kept control and made sure to leave four roadrunners stranded on base. The Roadrunners didn't stay down for long as they found an opening in the bottom of the seventh inning as Gaspar hit a walk-off double to take the game 4-3.
Game Three
The Matadors returned with a vengeance as bats were exploding in the top of the first inning. CSUN took an early lead as Kylie Galindo hit a single to bring in Whatman for a 1-0 lead. The Matadors kept the runs coming off an error by the Roadrunners as Mia Cortez and Galindo made it home. Vinessa Nunez kept the momentum going as she hit a single to shortstop to bring in Alexa Landeros. Murakami closed the scoring with a single up the middle to bring in Alexis Garcia and raise the score to 5-0. The Roadrunners tried to close the deficit in the first, but Alonso kept her cool and made sure to leave two runners on base.Â
CSUN continued to score in the top of the second inning as Cortez hit a single to bring in Sanchez. The Roadrunners finally managed to make it on the board as they hit a double to shortstop to cut the lead to 6-1. They continued to strike with a home run to cut the deficit in half with a score of 6-3. The Matadors didn't flinch as Sanchez hit a home run into right field in the top of the third to bring in Whatman and Murakami. Alonso kept the Roadrunners scoreless for the remainder of the game, but the Matadors' bats continued to sound off in the top of the seventh. Liana revived the Matadors after three scoreless innings with a home run into left center to bring in Gustin. Nielsen continued their momentum by scoring on a fielder's choice. Jizzell Ruiz topped off scoring by running in and raising CSUN to a 13-3 victory.
ABOUT No. 6 UCLA
The Bruins are coming off an 11-7 win to take the three-game series 2-1 against Arizona. UCLA adds four freshmen to its roster this season. Senior Maya Brady has a .380 batting average and leads the team in runs (37), hits (46), and RBIs (47). Senior Sharlize Palacios leads the Bruins in home runs with 13. Sophomore pitcher Taylor Tinsley has pitched for 120.1 innings and tallied 143 strikeouts while maintaining a 1.92 ERA. Head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez is in her 18th season at the helm. UCLA leads series history with 49 wins and 10 losses. The last time the Matadors faced the Bruins was in 2022 when UCLA took the game with a 22-0 win.
ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
The Tritons are coming off a 2-1 win to take the series against UC Riverside. UC San Diego adds three freshmen to its roster this season. Freshman Lexi O'Gorman holds a .326 batting average and leads the Tritons in hits with 36. Junior Morgan Eng leads the team in runs with 31. Junior pitcher India Caldwell has pitched for 160.1 innings and tallied 100 strikeouts while holding a 2.41 ERA. Head coach Patti Gerckens is in her 32nd season at the helm. CSUN leads series history with nine wins and five losses. The last time the Matadors faced the Tritons was in 2023 when CSUN swept UC San Diego 3-0.
#GoMatadors
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