Saturday, May 10
Fullerton, Calif
1:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
26-25
2
vs
8
UC Santa Barbara
33-24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UC Santa Barbara
3
0
0
0
4
0
1
8
8
1
CSUN
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
6
1
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Falls in Big West Championship to UCSB
5/10/2025 8:51:00 PM | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif -- CSUN Softball fell short in its doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Softball Championship game on Saturday at Anderson Family Field. CSUN fell in the first game 8-2 and dropped a close 7-5 decision in the championship game. Mikayla Carman had two RBI's in game one while Raegan Jackson had two RBIs in game two. Jerzie Liana had four hits total between the two games. Lauryn Carranco and Isabella Alonso both pitched complete games.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
The first two UCSB batters of the game reached on a single and a walk, respectively, in the first inning. A bunt from Tehya Banks moved both runners into scoring position. The next batter Elicia Acosta put a dent into the game early. She hit a home run over the left-center wall to make it a 3-0 game in favor of UCSB.
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In the third inning, UCSB was threatening to add more runs. With a runner on, a ball was hit to left field by Bella Fuentes. With two outs, Raegan Jackson had a nice diving catch in center field to prevent any more runs from scoring.
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In the top of the fifth inning, UCSB would add on to its lead though. With one out, Gizelle Mejia would double to left to get things going. Banks then reached on a fielding error and Mejia advanced to third. Acosta then made another imprint on the game. She had a long fly ball over the wall in left field to make it 6-0. The Gauchos weren't done. After a ground ball out, Bella Fuentes homered to left field to make it a 7-0 ballgame after four and a half innings.
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Flash forward to the top of the seventh when the Gauchos added one more. A walk and a double to center by Fuentes made it 8-0.Â
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In the bottom of the seventh, the Matadors didn't go down without a fight. After two singles, Jackson reached on a walk to get the bases loaded for Carman. Carman promptly singled to left field and plated two runs, making it an 8-2 game. However, that was the only runs CSUN would score in the inning, giving the game one win to the Gauchos and forcing a winner-take-all game two.Â
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GAME TWOÂ
To kick off the game, with one out, Mejia doubled down the left field line for the first hit in the ball game. A bunt moved her over to third with two outs before Acosta reached on a fielding error, allowing the first run of the game to score for the Gauchos.Â
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In the second inning, UCSB threatened to put more runs on the board. After a fielding error, a walk and a single, the Gauchos had bases loaded with two outs. Isabella Alonso kept her composure and struck out Mejia to end the inning.Â
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In the bottom of the second, the Matadors got on the board and took the lead with a statement. With one out, Gizella Vargas Sandoval walked. After a fielder's choice, Jackson stepped up to the plate with two outs. The junior from Vallejo doubled in the left-center gap and scored the Matadors' first run of the day to tie the game at one apiece. However, CSUN was not done. Vinessa Nunez singled to shortstop, allowing the lead runner to score and put the Matadors on top 2-1.Â
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The next batter, Carman, walked. Alexis Chavez then singled to left field and Nunez scored, making it a 3-1 game through two innings.
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In the top of the third, the Gauchos tied the game. After two singles, the Gauchos had runners on first and third with two outs. A double steal attempt was successful, bringing home the second run of the game for UCSB. The next batter, Delaina Ma'ae doubled in the left-center gap to tie the game at three apiece through two and a half innings.
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In the bottom of the third, CSUN got the lead right back. After a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a walk, Jackson was patient at the plate and was awarded a free-pass, allowing the fourth run of the game to score on a bases loaded walk and putting CSUN ahead 4-3.
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In the top of the fourth, UCSB took the lead again. Three singles, a walk and a double allotted three runs to score. The Gauchos took a 6-4 lead through three and a half.
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Flash forward to the top of the sixth when the Gauchos added one more. A single and a triple brought the seventh run of the game to score.Â
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In the seventh, CSUN mounted one last rally. Kylie Galindo doubled to right center to lead off the inning. A Vargas Sandoval ground out advanced the runner to third. Galindo would score on a Kaylee Escutia ground out to make it 7-5. However, CSUN would not get any closer as Jackson struck out to end the game.
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NEWS AND NOTES
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"First, I'd like to thank Fullerton for hosting this tournament. We didn't come out on top, but our senior class came in to make a difference and I couldn't be more proud of them. Props to Santa Barbara, they did a great job today. We've always played with a chip on our shoulder. I think our students have done an exceptional job all year. The road hasn't been easy. Every weekend we have had to grind out. We worked very hard in the offseason on their mentality and mental toughness. We've always trusted the process and ultimately our team was in charge of their destiny. They showed up and earned it, nothing was given to them. Our players are also amazing students in the classroom as well. They are set up to be leaders. It's not about wins and losses, it's about mentoring our students to become the best on and off the field."
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#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
The first two UCSB batters of the game reached on a single and a walk, respectively, in the first inning. A bunt from Tehya Banks moved both runners into scoring position. The next batter Elicia Acosta put a dent into the game early. She hit a home run over the left-center wall to make it a 3-0 game in favor of UCSB.
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In the third inning, UCSB was threatening to add more runs. With a runner on, a ball was hit to left field by Bella Fuentes. With two outs, Raegan Jackson had a nice diving catch in center field to prevent any more runs from scoring.
Â
In the top of the fifth inning, UCSB would add on to its lead though. With one out, Gizelle Mejia would double to left to get things going. Banks then reached on a fielding error and Mejia advanced to third. Acosta then made another imprint on the game. She had a long fly ball over the wall in left field to make it 6-0. The Gauchos weren't done. After a ground ball out, Bella Fuentes homered to left field to make it a 7-0 ballgame after four and a half innings.
Â
Flash forward to the top of the seventh when the Gauchos added one more. A walk and a double to center by Fuentes made it 8-0.Â
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In the bottom of the seventh, the Matadors didn't go down without a fight. After two singles, Jackson reached on a walk to get the bases loaded for Carman. Carman promptly singled to left field and plated two runs, making it an 8-2 game. However, that was the only runs CSUN would score in the inning, giving the game one win to the Gauchos and forcing a winner-take-all game two.Â
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GAME TWOÂ
To kick off the game, with one out, Mejia doubled down the left field line for the first hit in the ball game. A bunt moved her over to third with two outs before Acosta reached on a fielding error, allowing the first run of the game to score for the Gauchos.Â
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In the second inning, UCSB threatened to put more runs on the board. After a fielding error, a walk and a single, the Gauchos had bases loaded with two outs. Isabella Alonso kept her composure and struck out Mejia to end the inning.Â
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In the bottom of the second, the Matadors got on the board and took the lead with a statement. With one out, Gizella Vargas Sandoval walked. After a fielder's choice, Jackson stepped up to the plate with two outs. The junior from Vallejo doubled in the left-center gap and scored the Matadors' first run of the day to tie the game at one apiece. However, CSUN was not done. Vinessa Nunez singled to shortstop, allowing the lead runner to score and put the Matadors on top 2-1.Â
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The next batter, Carman, walked. Alexis Chavez then singled to left field and Nunez scored, making it a 3-1 game through two innings.
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In the top of the third, the Gauchos tied the game. After two singles, the Gauchos had runners on first and third with two outs. A double steal attempt was successful, bringing home the second run of the game for UCSB. The next batter, Delaina Ma'ae doubled in the left-center gap to tie the game at three apiece through two and a half innings.
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In the bottom of the third, CSUN got the lead right back. After a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a walk, Jackson was patient at the plate and was awarded a free-pass, allowing the fourth run of the game to score on a bases loaded walk and putting CSUN ahead 4-3.
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In the top of the fourth, UCSB took the lead again. Three singles, a walk and a double allotted three runs to score. The Gauchos took a 6-4 lead through three and a half.
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Flash forward to the top of the sixth when the Gauchos added one more. A single and a triple brought the seventh run of the game to score.Â
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In the seventh, CSUN mounted one last rally. Kylie Galindo doubled to right center to lead off the inning. A Vargas Sandoval ground out advanced the runner to third. Galindo would score on a Kaylee Escutia ground out to make it 7-5. However, CSUN would not get any closer as Jackson struck out to end the game.
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NEWS AND NOTES
- CSUN finishes the season at 26-26 overall and runners-up at the Big West Championship.Â
- Carman in the first game, with her RBI single, got her 200th hit of her Matador career. She also had her 600th at-bat in the game as well.
- Carman, Chavez, Escutia, Jackson and Nunez accounted for all the Matadors' RBIs between the two games.
- Carman and Vargas Sandoval each walked twice in game two.
- Carranco added three strikeouts to bring her total to 113 to finish out the year.
- Carranco finished her year 16-12 with a 2.77Â ERA.
- Alonso finished her year 10-12 with a 3.92Â ERA.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH CHARLOTTE MORGAN
"First, I'd like to thank Fullerton for hosting this tournament. We didn't come out on top, but our senior class came in to make a difference and I couldn't be more proud of them. Props to Santa Barbara, they did a great job today. We've always played with a chip on our shoulder. I think our students have done an exceptional job all year. The road hasn't been easy. Every weekend we have had to grind out. We worked very hard in the offseason on their mentality and mental toughness. We've always trusted the process and ultimately our team was in charge of their destiny. They showed up and earned it, nothing was given to them. Our players are also amazing students in the classroom as well. They are set up to be leaders. It's not about wins and losses, it's about mentoring our students to become the best on and off the field."
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#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Malaya Johnson (21-10)
L: Carranco, Lauryn (16-12)
Batting:
2B: Giselle Mejia 1 ; Bella Fuentes 1
HR: Elicia Acosta 2 ; Bella Fuentes 1
RBI: Elicia Acosta 6 ; Bella Fuentes 2
SH: Tehya Banks 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jazzy Santos 1 ; Giselle Mejia 2 ; Tehya Banks 1 ; Elicia Acosta 2 ; Makayla Newsom 1 ; Bella Fuentes 1
SB: Erin Mendoza 1
Batting:
RBI: Carman, Mikayla 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Cortez, Mia 1 ; Escutia, Kaylee 1
HBP: Carman, Mikayla 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballP/SS
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
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