California State University at Northridge
24-24, 8-16
UC San Diego
16-32, 9-14
CSUN Sweeps UC San Diego for “Shay-Day”
5/4/2024 4:17:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—CSUN softball completed the sweep over UC San Diego with a 9-7 win after overcoming a 6-0 deficit. Senior Shaylan Whatman finished her final home game at Matador Diamond with two runs, two hits, and one RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons came out swinging as they took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The first to score was off a double sent flying into left center by Hailey Mulligan. UC San Diego continued its momentum with a single up the middle off the bat of Brooklyn Lee to bring in two runners. The Tritons continued to score in the top of the third inning as Deena Pederson hit a double to bring in Mulligan. Alexa DeMarse kept the score climbing with a single to bring in Pederson. Marissa Hassis would close the scoring with a single to bring in DeMarse for a 6-0 lead.
The Matadors didn't stay silent for long as they answered in the bottom of the third inning. Carys Murakami began the tide change with a single sent to shortstop. Lulu Sanchez would put the Matadors on the board as she hit a triple into left center to bring in Murakami. Mikayla Carman would follow with her own single to bring in Sanchez. Mia Cortez rounded off the inning with a single to bring in Carman and cut the deficit in half at 6-3. The Tritons tried to respond, but Alexa Ortiz kept her cool and retired all three batters in a row. CSUN wouldn't stay silent as the Matadors continued their momentum into the fourth inning. Shaylan Whatman would add another run for CSUN as she hit a single up the middle to bring in Jadyn Nielsen. Carman followed with a double down the left field line to bring in Whatman and Murakami to tie the game at 6-6.
UC San Diego tried to score again in the top of the fifth, but Ortiz quickly shut down the Tritons once more. CSUN's bats continued to sound off as the Matadors took the lead with a single from Murakami to bring in Kaylee Escutia for a 7-6 lead. The Tritons didn't let the Matadors hold the lead for long as they scored on a throwing error by the Matadors to tie the game. Isabella Alonso stepped in the circle soon after and retired the next three batters to keep the Tritons from taking the lead back. The Matadors would take back the lead with a single into right center by Alexis Chavez to bring in Kennedy Gustin and Whatman. The Tritons tried to rally in the top of the seventh, but Alonso kept her cool and retired all three batters to seal the victory for CSUN.
NOTES OF THE GAME
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CSUN's overall record rises to 24-24 and conference record improves to 8-16. UC San Diego's overall record levels to 16-32 and 9-14.
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Lauryn Carranco started in the circle first and pitched for 2.2 innings. She tallied two strikeouts and allowed eight hits with six runs.
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Alexa Ortiz stepped in next and pitched for 2.1 innings. She allowed three hits with one run.
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Isabella Alonso was credited with the win as she closed out the game with 2.0 innings and didn't allow a single hit or run.
ACCORDING TO ASSISTANT COACH CHELSEA JOHNSON
"Just an overall good team win today. I think we did a great job rallying with two outs every single time. We did a great job, all hitters, we showed up today. It was a good way to leave our last home series and a good way to leave our Shay-day and really celebrate Shaylan and send her off in the right way."
UP NEXT
The Matadors hit the road to face UC Santa Barbara for their final three-game series of the regular season. The series will begin with a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for Friday, May 10, at noon. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
#GoMatadors
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Alonso, Isabella (12-11)
L: Caldwell, India (13-13)
Batting:
2B: Mulligan, Hailey 1 ; Pederson, Deena 1
RBI: Mulligan, Hailey 1 ; Pederson, Deena 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 2 ; DeMarse, Alexa 1 ; Hassis, Marissa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Eng, Morgan 2 ; Mulligan, Hailey 2 ; Pederson, Deena 2 ; DeMarse, Alexa 1
SB: Eng, Morgan 2 ; Pederson, Deena 1
Batting:
2B: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Carman, Mikayla 1
3B: Sanchez, Lulu 1
RBI: Whatman, Shaylan 1 ; Sanchez, Lulu 1 ; Carman, Mikayla 3 ; Cortez, Mia 1 ; Chavez, Alexis 2 ; Murakami, Carys 1
SH: Landeros, Alexa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whatman, Shaylan 2 ; Sanchez, Lulu 1 ; Carman, Mikayla 2 ; Escutia, Kaylee 1 ; Nielsen, Jadyn 1 ; Murakami, Carys 2
