CSUN Falls to Cal Baptist in Nailbiter, 3-2

RIVERSIDE, Calif -- CSUN Softball dropped a close game to the Cal Baptist Lancers 3-2 Tuesday night at John C. Funk Stadium. Gisella Vargas Sandoval and Sydney Friejanes accounted for the two Matador runs. Isabella Alonso struck out two in three innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mikayla Carman walked to kick off the ball game. Jadyn Nielsen bunted Carman over and Tiara Westbrook got Carman to third base on a ground ball to the pitcher. Vargas Sandoval then hit an infield single to the second baseman, scoring Carman and giving CSUN the early 1-0 lead. Friejanes then doubled down the left field line, past the diving left fielder and Vargas Sandoval scored all the way from first, making it a 2-0 game. All of CSUN's runs batted in came with two outs.

Alonso retired the side in order during the first inning.

After Alonso downed the first two batters of the second in order, Sydney Soto hit a ball over the centerfield fence, cutting the Matador lead in half at 2-1.

Flash forward to the bottom of the third, The Lancers connected on back-to-back singles with one out. Alonso got out of the jam, as she got the next two batters out on a pop out and a strikeout.

Elisa Gulfin relieved Alonso in the fourth and retired three out of the first four batters she saw.

In the fifth, Gulfin allowed a single up the middle to begin the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner over to second. The next batter lined to Nielsen for the second out. With two outs, Matti Severns reached first on an infield single, as the Lancers started to mount a threat with runners on the corners.

Kate Penberthy then doubled in the gap, scoring the two runners on base while giving the Lancers a 3-2 lead. Aleyna Urbina relieved Gulfin after the double. She got the next batter to pop out to first.

The CSUN offense was quieted due to great defense by the Lancers, as CBU held a 3-2 lead heading into the last inning.

The Lancers threatened to put another run on the board with runners on second and third with one out in the bottom half of the sixth. Reagan Jackson had one of the nicest plays of the season and she caught the second out of the inning on a fly ball and then threw out the runner at home on an outfield assist to keep the lead at one heading into the seventh.

Unfortunately CSUN couldn't put any runs on the board as Cal Baptist hung on for the win.

NEWS AND NOTES

With the defeat, CSUN drops to 11-14 on the season.
Alonso struck out two and lowered her ERA to 4.83
Alexis Chavez got a hit in her only appearance.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Overall I thought we had some good hard hits, CBU made some really good plays. I didn't think our energy was where we needed it to be. I was proud of our players that got their number called as they did their job. We have to use these non-conference games wisely to learn and we'll get at it again versus Long Beach State this weekend."

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home and returns to Big West play with a three-game series against Long Beach State this weekend. The Matadors will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m. All three games will be livestreamed on ESPN+.

CSUN Falls to Cal Baptist in Nailbiter, 3-2

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Team Stats

Jadyn Nielsen

Gizella Vargas Sandoval

Sydney Freijanes

Alexis Chavez

Players Mentioned

Isabella Alonso

Mikayla Carman

Alexis Chavez

Elisa Gulfin

Jadyn Nielsen

Aleyna Urbina

Tiara Westbrook

Players Mentioned

Isabella Alonso

Mikayla Carman

Alexis Chavez

Elisa Gulfin

Jadyn Nielsen

Aleyna Urbina

Tiara Westbrook