California State University at Northridge
25-24, 9-16
UC Santa Barbara
18-28, 12-13
CSUN Splits Doubleheader Against UC Santa Barbara
5/10/2024 9:50:00 PM | Softball
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—CSUN split Friday's doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara at the UCSB Campus Diamond. The Matadors took game one 4-3, while the Gauchos took game two 4-3. Shaylan Whatman led the Matadors with four hits, two runs, one home run and three RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
The Matadors were first to get on the board in the first inning with a sacrifice fly sent into center field by Mikayla Carman to bring in Whatman. Pitcher Lauryn Carranco would hold the Gauchos scoreless through the first three innings, stranding four UCSB runners on base. The Gauchos tried to even the score, but Carranco shut them down through the first three innings, leaving four batters on base. UC Santa Barbara finally broke through in the fourth inning with a triple and a single to take the lead at 2-1. The Matadors answered back at the top of the fifth when Whatman launched a home run over the center field wall to tie the game at 2-2. UC Santa Barbara answered back at the bottom of the sixth with a single to bring in a run and take back the lead. The Matadors didn't let the Gauchos hold the lead for long as Whatman hit a double into center field to bring in Makenzie San Pedro and Jerzie Liana at the top of the seventh to put CSUN back in front, 4-2. The Gauchos loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Carranco slammed the door, giving CSUN the 4-1 win.
Game Two
The Gauchos returned with a vengeance as they opened the second game with three runs in the first inning. Isabella Alonso kept her cool as she retired the next five batters in a row. The Matadors didn't stay silent for long as Alexa Landeros tied the game with a double into right center to bring in Alexis Chavez, Jadyn Nielsen, and Carman. The next four innings saw a pitcher's duel, as neither Alonso and Johnson would give up a run through the fifth and sixth innings. The Gauchos, however would score in the bottom of the seventh, at 4-3 as a single up the middle brought home the winning run in a 4-3 UCSB victory.
NOTES OF THE GAME
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CSUN's overall record rises to 25-25 and conference record improves to 9-17. UC Santa Barbara's overall record stands at 19-28 and its Big West record climbs to 13-13.
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Lauryn Carranco started on the mound for CSUN in game one and pitched for 6.2 innings. She tallied three strikeouts while allowing seven hits and three runs.
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Isabella Alonso stepped up next and pitched for 6.1 innings in game two. She recorded four strikeouts while allowing four runs and 10 hits.
ACCORDING TO ASSISTANT COACH CHELSEA JOHNSON
"I'm really proud of this team. They did a good job finding a way to win and taking care of the little things. That second game, we had good pitching and good defense. They just did a better job at getting the timely hits, you got to give it to them."
UP NEXT
The Matadors finish the series against the Gauchos with one final game on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Malaya Johnson (5-7)
L: Alonso, Isabella (12-12)
Batting:
2B: Landeros, Alexa 1
RBI: Landeros, Alexa 3
SH: Sanchez, Lulu 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carman, Mikayla 1 ; Nielsen, Jadyn 1 ; Chavez, Alexis 1
Batting:
RBI: Jazzy Santos 1 ; Alexa Sams 2 ; Elicia Acosta 1
SH: Madelyn McNally 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jazzy Santos 1 ; Ainsley Waddell 1 ; Alana Snow 1 ; Erin Mendoza 1
SB: Madelyn McNally 1
