CSUN Bats Stand Out in 7-2 Win Over BYU

Thursday, February 19

Cathedral City, Calif

3:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

2-7

Brigham Young University

1-9

BYU

CSUN

Photo by: Bella A Enriquez

CSUN Bats Stand Out in 7-2 Win Over BYU

2/19/2026 9:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (2-7) got back in the win column against the BYU Cougars, 7-2 in the first day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic Thursday afternoon at Big League Dreams Sports Parks. Maddie Padilla had a pinch-hit three-run home run to put the game out of reach for the Cougars in the seventh.

Isabella Hiner had two RBIs, and Makenzi Padilla and Amber Rivas knocked in runs as well in the victory. Malia Williams got her first Matador win, going five innings, striking out two while only allowing two runs. Kaitlyn Tso got the save, going two innings, only allowing two hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first two innings, the Cougars struck first in the top half of the third. Miranda Mansfield opened up the inning with a triple to left field. Hailey Shuler brought her home with a sacrifice fly to score the game's first run.

Ilovea Brittingham then homered to right center, as BYU now held a 2-0 lead.

That 2-0 lead would hold until the bottom of the fourth, when the CSUN bats came alive. The Matadors struck for four runs in the fourth as Maddie Okano singled to start things off, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Rivas then singled up the middle, scoring Okano and cutting the Cougar lead in half. Raegan Jackson was then intentionally walked. Makenzi Padilla then singled as Rivas scored from second base, tying the game up at two apiece.

The next batter, Hiner, doubled to right center, plating across two more runs, increasing the CSUN lead to 4-2.

The Matadors held a 4-2 lead until the bottom of the sixth. CSUN made two outs in the inning's first two batters, but started a rally with a Makenzi Padilla single, her second hit of the game. Hiner notched her second hit as well, this time a single through the right side to put two runners on for pinch-hitter Maddie Padilla. Padilla then hit CSUN's first home run of the year, a three-run blast to deep left field to put CSUN on top 7-2.

In the circle, Tso got the last three outs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the second win of the season for the Matadors.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN's seven runs are their most scored in the last six games.
CSUN beat BYU on the first day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in 2025 as well.
Williams earns her first win in six appearances.
Tso earns her first save in seven appearances.
Padilla's home run was the first in her first career.
CSUN only struck out once in the game.

UP NEXT
CSUN will take on Seattle University and Utah in a doubleheader tomorrow at Big League Dreams Sports Park. The game against Seattle U will be at 12:30 p.m. while the game against the Utes is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on FloSports.