CSUN Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Bakersfield

Saturday, March 14

Bakersfield, CA

12:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

6-15, 2-3

Cal State Bakersfield

5-21, 3-2

CSUN

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Splits Saturday Doubleheader at Bakersfield

3/14/2026 6:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (7-15) dropped game two of a three-game series 2-1 before taking the last game of the series 8-5 Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Softball Complex. Isabella Hiner had the lone RBI in game one. Malia Williams pitched a complete game with two strikeouts in the loss.

In game two, Raegan Jackson led the way with three RBIs. Catcher Makenzi Padilla had two RBIs while both Amber Rivas and Ta'Tiannah Wright drove in a run as well. Freshman Kaitlyn Tso pitched a complete game, earning the victory while striking out one and allowing three runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
After both teams traded two scoreless innings to start the game, the Matadors broke through in the top of the third. Isabella Valdez was hit by a pitch to open the frame before Madison Okano and Vanessa Perez each drew walks to load the bases. Hiner then worked another walk to force home Valdez and give CSUN a 1-0 lead.

Bakersfield answered in the bottom half of the inning. A walk and a Matador error helped put two runners in scoring position before Erika Barela lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home the tying run.

The Roadrunners pushed across the eventual game-winning run in the fourth inning. Hannah Garcia drew a leadoff walk and later came around to score after a single and a fielding error allowed the run to cross the plate, giving Bakersfield a 2-1 advantage.

CSUN had chances late. Jackson singled in the sixth and advanced when Ta'Tiannah Wright followed with a base hit, but the Matadors were unable to bring the tying run home.
GAME TWO
The Matadors wasted no time making a statement in trying to find their first win of the series. To kick off the game, Madison Okano singled to center field. After a fly out, Wright singled to left field. Jackson flied out to left field but Okano advanced to third. With two outs, Okano scored on a wild pitch and Wright advanced to second. Wright stole third and Hiner walked. Rivas then doubled to left field, driving in Wright in the process to make it a 2-0 game.

The next batter Makenzi Padilla singled, and both runners came across the plate to give the Matadors the early 4-0 lead.

In the second inning, CSUN doubled its lead. After a walk, a single and a hit by pitch, Wright came up with the bases loaded. The freshman from Chula Vista singled to center field to make it a 5-0 Matador lead.

Jackson then delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon - a three-run double down the left-field line that brought home Wright, Perez and Okano to stretch the lead to 8-0.

Tso worked through early traffic, escaping a bases-loaded threat in the first inning and holding the Roadrunners scoreless through the first three frames.

Bakersfield finally broke through in the fourth. Anahi Castillo lined a double into right-center field that drove in three runs, cutting the Matadors' lead to 8-3.

There wouldn't be any more scoring until the seventh inning. In that frame, Jayda Eaton singled home a run and Alexandra McDanell added an RBI single as CSU Bakersfield closed to within 8-5. However, Tso recorded the final out with runners on base to seal the victory.

NOTES OF THE GAME

Malia Williams (3-6) took the tough-luck loss in game one, despite allowing just two hits over six innings. Neither of the runs she surrendered were earned.
It was Williams' first complete game of the season.
CSUN scored all four runs in the first inning of game two with two outs.
Jackson is now tied with Okano for the most RBIs on the team with 11
Padilla now has seven RBIs this season.
Tso now has four complete games on the season.
Tso's record moves to 3-7.
CSUN had three stolen bases in game two.

UP NEXT
CSUN returns home for a series against Cal Poly on March 21-22. The Matadors swept the Mustangs in San Luis Obispo in 2025. All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+.