Friday, March 21
Northridge, Calif.
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
12-14, 5-1
6
vs
5
Long Beach State
14-11, 4-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Long Beach State
2
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
5
7
2
CSUN
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
1
6
10
3
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Splits Doubleheader Against Long Beach State
3/21/2025 9:27:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif -- CSUN Softball split a doubleheader with Long Beach State Friday afternoon at Matador Diamond. CSUN won the first game 6-5 on a walk-off single from Tiara Westbrook in extra innings. Then the Matadors went on to drop game two to the Beach, 7-5. Gizella Vargas Sandoval and Westbrook accounted for two RBI's each in game one. Westbrook also led CSUN in RBi's in game two with three.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
Jacquelyn Bickar walked to begin the game for the Beach. The next batter singled through the right side to put two runners on for LBSU. Two batters later, Malayna Terrones doubled to left center, scoring the two runners on base and making it a 2-0 ball game.
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Lauryn Carranco did a great job of holding the lead at two, as she only allowed one hit through the next three innings.Â
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It would remain 2-0 until the bottom half of the fourth when the Matadors put up five runs. Kylie Galindo singled through the right side to begin the fourth. Alexis Chavez then singled to right field to put two runners on and nobody out. Alexa Landeros reached on a fielding error and a run scored in the process to make it 2-1.Â
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Later in the fourth, Mikayla Carman reached on a fielder's choice to make it bases loaded for Jadyn Nielsen, who promptly singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Gisella Vargas Sandoval then came up with a chance to do some damage and do some damage she did. The junior from Arleta singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by the right fielder, making it a 4-2 game. Westbrook followed with a single to left field, scoring Vargas Sandoval for a 5-2 lead.
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The game stayed at 5-2 until the top of the sixth. LBSU hit a single and a double to kick things off. The third batter of the inning grounded out to third base, but a run scored in the process, making it 5-3. Another run later scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the CSUN lead to 5-4.Â
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In the top of the seventh, LBSU rattled off a single and a runner reached on an error to start the inning, putting runners at the corners.Isabella Alonso then came into the game to relieve Carranco. Alonso got the first runner she saw to pop out. However, the next batter reached on an error, scoring the tying run.
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The Matadors made a nice defensive play to end the inning, a fly ball to center field which also caught the runner sleeping at second for an 8-6 double play.
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CSUN couldn't get any runs across in the seventh as the game headed into extra innings.
After Alonso kept things steady in the top of the eighth, Raegan Jackson walked to begin the bottom half before eventually reaching third base. After a Nielsen walk, Westbrook entered the game as a pinch hitter and singled to the right side to bring home the winning run. The transfer from Oregon State hit her first career walk off as the Matadors claimed victory.
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GAME TWO
Long Beach started the first inning with a single to second base. Following the hit, Beach got the scoring going when Brooklyn Lee sent a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run. It would be 2-0 heading through the first half inning.
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The score would stay at 2-0 until the top of the third. The Beach added two more. After a leadoff walk, Makayla Medellin sent a ball to the opposite field and over the wall for a two-run homer. This made it 4-0 after two and a half.
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In the bottom half of the fourth, Westbrook began the inning with a double off the left field wall. Westbrook advanced to third on a wild pitch and then Rhea Furtado pinch ran for her. Galindo then hit a fly ball to centerfield, scoring Furtado and giving the Matadors their first run of the game to make it a 4-1 game.
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Flash forward to the bottom of the fifth where Larissa Flores reached on a walk to start. With one out, Carman then singled to right field and Flores advanced to third. Flores would then score on a wild pitch to make it a two-run game at 4-2.
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The Beach would add a run thanks to three straight singles in the top of the sixth. However, they wouldn't stop there. LBSU added two more in the top of the seventh thanks in part to a double, a passed ball, and two singles. The score would then be 7-2.
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CSUN faced an uphill battle entering the last inning, but the Matadors did not give up. Jackson got hit by a pitch to begin the last inning. After a fielder's choice, Mackenzie Padilla then walked to put two runners on for Westbrook. Westbrook didn't miss a beat and promptly homered over the left field wall to cut the lead to two at 7-5 with one out. Unfortunately, that was it for the Matadors' offense as the next batters couldn't capitalize.Â
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NEWS AND NOTES
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Everyone knows that Long Beach State is a great competitor. They're going to come out and fight. They hit us early, but we were able to come out on top in game one. In game two, I'm proud of our fight. At the end of the day, you want your tying run at the plate at the end of the game, we just didn't capitalize. We've got to play a little cleaner. It was a long day on both sides. We've got to keep getting better and now the series is up for grabs. Excited to see us come out tomorrow and adjust."
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UP NEXTÂ
CSUN completes its series with Long Beach State Saturday with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. The game will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
Jacquelyn Bickar walked to begin the game for the Beach. The next batter singled through the right side to put two runners on for LBSU. Two batters later, Malayna Terrones doubled to left center, scoring the two runners on base and making it a 2-0 ball game.
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Lauryn Carranco did a great job of holding the lead at two, as she only allowed one hit through the next three innings.Â
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It would remain 2-0 until the bottom half of the fourth when the Matadors put up five runs. Kylie Galindo singled through the right side to begin the fourth. Alexis Chavez then singled to right field to put two runners on and nobody out. Alexa Landeros reached on a fielding error and a run scored in the process to make it 2-1.Â
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Later in the fourth, Mikayla Carman reached on a fielder's choice to make it bases loaded for Jadyn Nielsen, who promptly singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Gisella Vargas Sandoval then came up with a chance to do some damage and do some damage she did. The junior from Arleta singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by the right fielder, making it a 4-2 game. Westbrook followed with a single to left field, scoring Vargas Sandoval for a 5-2 lead.
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The game stayed at 5-2 until the top of the sixth. LBSU hit a single and a double to kick things off. The third batter of the inning grounded out to third base, but a run scored in the process, making it 5-3. Another run later scored on a sacrifice fly to cut the CSUN lead to 5-4.Â
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In the top of the seventh, LBSU rattled off a single and a runner reached on an error to start the inning, putting runners at the corners.Isabella Alonso then came into the game to relieve Carranco. Alonso got the first runner she saw to pop out. However, the next batter reached on an error, scoring the tying run.
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The Matadors made a nice defensive play to end the inning, a fly ball to center field which also caught the runner sleeping at second for an 8-6 double play.
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CSUN couldn't get any runs across in the seventh as the game headed into extra innings.
After Alonso kept things steady in the top of the eighth, Raegan Jackson walked to begin the bottom half before eventually reaching third base. After a Nielsen walk, Westbrook entered the game as a pinch hitter and singled to the right side to bring home the winning run. The transfer from Oregon State hit her first career walk off as the Matadors claimed victory.
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GAME TWO
Long Beach started the first inning with a single to second base. Following the hit, Beach got the scoring going when Brooklyn Lee sent a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run. It would be 2-0 heading through the first half inning.
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The score would stay at 2-0 until the top of the third. The Beach added two more. After a leadoff walk, Makayla Medellin sent a ball to the opposite field and over the wall for a two-run homer. This made it 4-0 after two and a half.
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In the bottom half of the fourth, Westbrook began the inning with a double off the left field wall. Westbrook advanced to third on a wild pitch and then Rhea Furtado pinch ran for her. Galindo then hit a fly ball to centerfield, scoring Furtado and giving the Matadors their first run of the game to make it a 4-1 game.
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Flash forward to the bottom of the fifth where Larissa Flores reached on a walk to start. With one out, Carman then singled to right field and Flores advanced to third. Flores would then score on a wild pitch to make it a two-run game at 4-2.
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The Beach would add a run thanks to three straight singles in the top of the sixth. However, they wouldn't stop there. LBSU added two more in the top of the seventh thanks in part to a double, a passed ball, and two singles. The score would then be 7-2.
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CSUN faced an uphill battle entering the last inning, but the Matadors did not give up. Jackson got hit by a pitch to begin the last inning. After a fielder's choice, Mackenzie Padilla then walked to put two runners on for Westbrook. Westbrook didn't miss a beat and promptly homered over the left field wall to cut the lead to two at 7-5 with one out. Unfortunately, that was it for the Matadors' offense as the next batters couldn't capitalize.Â
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NEWS AND NOTES
- With today's results, CSUN is now 12-15 and 5-2 in Big West play.
- Westbrook totalled five runs batted in over the two games.
- Carman had three hits over the two games.
- Alonso tallied seven innings pitched between both games.
- Westbrook, Galindo and Chavez each had two hits in game one.
- Westbrook, Galindo and Carman each had two hits in game two.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Everyone knows that Long Beach State is a great competitor. They're going to come out and fight. They hit us early, but we were able to come out on top in game one. In game two, I'm proud of our fight. At the end of the day, you want your tying run at the plate at the end of the game, we just didn't capitalize. We've got to play a little cleaner. It was a long day on both sides. We've got to keep getting better and now the series is up for grabs. Excited to see us come out tomorrow and adjust."
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UP NEXTÂ
CSUN completes its series with Long Beach State Saturday with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. The game will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Alonso, Isabella (5-6)
L: Nally, Brynne (4-4)
Batting:
2B: Durazo, Rebekah 1 ; Terrones, Malayna 1
RBI: Medellin, Makayla 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1 ; Terrones, Malayna 3
SF: Terrones, Malayna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bickar, Jacquelyn 1 ; Medellin, Makayla 1 ; Gonzales, KaLeena 1 ; Lee, Brooklyn 1 ; Perez, Selena 1
Batting:
RBI: Nielsen, Jadyn 1 ; Vargas Sandoval, Gizella 2 ; Westbrook, Tiara 2
SH: Landeros, Alexa 2 ; Jackson, Raegan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carman, Mikayla 1 ; Vargas Sandoval, Gizella 1 ; Galindo, Kylie 1 ; Flores, Larissa 1 ; Landeros, Alexa 1 ; Jackson, Raegan 1
HBP: Jackson, Raegan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
c/dp
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
2b/1b
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/UTIL
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball1B/OF
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