CSUN Sweeps Both Games Against Cal Poly Saturday

SAN LUIS OBISPO, -- Calif -- CSUN Softball swept a doubleheader Saturday against the Cal Poly Mustangs to kick off Big West play. CSUN won the first game, 7-2, and the second game, 6-2. Reagan Jackson and Tiara Westbrook accounted for six RBI's during the two games. Pitchers Lauryn Carranco and Isabella Alonso both pitched complete games.

GAME ONE
The first pitch of the game hit Mikayla Carman in the shoulder, and Gisella Vargas Sandoval moved the runner via sacrifice bunt. Tiara Westbrook then walked to set up two runners for Jerzie Liana. Liana then doubled to right center, scoring the first run of the game for the Matadors, leaving Westbrook on third.

With two runners still on base, Kylie Galindo singled to centerfield, scoring Westbrook and giving CSUN the early 2-0 lead through the first.

Kiara Blanchard of the Mustangs singled to right field to lead things off in the bottom half. An error put two runners on with no outs. Carranco struck out the star player Julia Barnett to get the first out. Mylina Garzan followed with a double to center field to score the lead run, making it a 2-1 game.

In the bottom of the second Cal Poly tied things up. First on a double by A'Niyla Bird, then a single from Kiara Blanchard to bring Bird home.

Liana kicked things off in the top of the third with an infield single. Kylie Galindo followed with a single to left field. Escutia sacrifice bunted the runners over as CSUN was now threatening with two runners in scoring position and one out. Alexis Chavez grounded out to second base but the runner did score, making it a 3-2 game.

Larissa Flores began the top of the fourth with a walk. Carman then singled to shortstop. Vargas Sandoval then walked to get the bases loaded for Westbrook. The transfer from Oregon State wasted no time, she doubled down the left field line and cleared the bases, scoring three runs in the process. CSUN ended the fourth up 6-2.

Amongst all the offense from CSUN, Lauryn Carranco did a great job holding things together in the circle. She allowed no runs from the second to the sixth inning, striking out seven in the process, including striking out the side in the fifth.
In the seventh inning, CSUN added to its lead. With runners on second and third, Sydney Freijanes hit a sacrifice fly to the centerfielder, scoring the Matadors seventh run, which made it 7-2.

Carranco made quick work of the Mustangs in the final inning, retiring three out of the four hitters, and securing the win for the Matadors in game one.

GAME TWO
After a scoreless two innings from both teams, CSUN found itself with two runners on and nobody out in the top of the third. Raegan Jackson promptly singled up the middle, scoring the first run of the game for the Matadors. Two batters later Jadyn Nielsen hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring the runner from third to give CSUN the 2-0 lead.

In the next half inning, Cal Poly tied the game up. Four straight singles accounted for two runs.

Flash forward to the bottom of the fifth, Cal Poly was threatening with runners on second and third base, with only one out. On a ground ball by Mylina Garza, the shortstop Liana threw a bullet at home, getting the lead runner out and keeping the score tied.

In the top of the sixth, Chavez walked with Galindo having reached via a fielding error in the prior at bat. Here is where the Matadors broke the game open. With two on, Freijanes singled to shortstop. With savvy baserunning, Galindo took home on the single, scoring from second on an infield single to make it 3-2. Raegan Jackson, the next batter, doubled down the left field line, plating two more to make it 5-2. The very next Matador at the plate, hit a double of her own, Carman brought home Jackson to make it a 6-2 game.

Alonso then brought the Matadors home with some great pitching. She went all seven innings, allowing seven hits and striking out two. In the last two innings that she pitched with CSUN having the lead, Alonso retired seven out of the last eight Mustangs in order to end the game.

NEWS AND NOTES

With the wins, CSUN is now 9-12 overall and 2-0 in Big West play.
Carranco completed her ninth game, as her ERA is down to 3.79. She struck out seven as well.
Alonso won her fourth game of the season.
Liana, Galindo and Jackson all had two hit games.
After today's games, Westbrook leads the team with a .352 batting average.

ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"Overall, I was happy with our consistency. We had two really good pitching performances, and when we needed to, we came up clutch. We did a great job of sticking to our strategies at the plate. I am proud of my team for trusting the process. Overall, it was a team win. It's big in conference play to get this start. I am proud that we stuck with it. Still, anybody's game tomorrow and we need to make sure that we make our adjustments."

UP NEXT
CSUN looks to get the series sweep tomorrow as it will take on the Cal Poly Mustangs, with the first pitch at 1:00 p.m.

CSUN Sweeps Both Games Against Cal Poly Saturday

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Team Stats

Jerzie Liana

Kylie Galindo

Mikayla Carman

Jadyn Nielsen

Players Mentioned

Isabella Alonso

Mikayla Carman

Lauryn Carranco

Alexis Chavez

Larissa Flores

Sydney Freijanes

Kylie Galindo

Raegan Jackson

Jerzie Liana

Jadyn Nielsen

Tiara Westbrook

Players Mentioned

Isabella Alonso

Mikayla Carman

Lauryn Carranco

Alexis Chavez

Larissa Flores

Sydney Freijanes

Kylie Galindo

Raegan Jackson

Jerzie Liana

Jadyn Nielsen

Tiara Westbrook