CSUN Defeats Cal Poly 11-7, Takes Series After Sixth Inning Rally

Sunday, March 22

Northridge, Calif

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

9-16, 5-4

Cal Poly

7-21, 1-8

Cal Poly

CSUN

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Defeats Cal Poly 11-7, Takes Series After Sixth Inning Rally

3/22/2026 6:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (9-16, 5-4 Big West) took the rubber match of a three-game series, 11-7, against Cal Poly at Matador Diamond Sunday afternoon. The Matadors were down 7-5 entering the bottom of the sixth and scored six runs in the inning to win the game by four. Madilyn Hernandez, Kylie Kolkowski and Raegan Jackson led the team with two RBIs. Kaitlyn Tso pitched six innings, including getting the last three outs in the seventh. Malia Williams got the win, pitching the sixth and allowing no earned runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, Cal Poly started the scoring in the top of the second. It would come in the form of two singles and an error on a ground ball to the shortstop with two outs that allowed both runners to score. Both runs would be unearned as Cal Poly took a 2-0 lead

CSUN wasted no time striking back in the bottom of the second. Jackson got hit by a pitch to start the inning. Ta'Tiannah Wright reached on an error, which meant runners on both first and second base. Both runners then stole second and third. Hernandez brought the runners home with a single up the middle to even the score at two apiece.

After Savannah Simons got hit by a pitch, Kolkowski got her first RBI of her collegiate career on a sacrifice fly to right field. The run gave CSUN the lead at 3-2. After a Madison Okano single, Vanessa Perez singled to right field and brought Simons home to double the Matador lead at 4-2.

The Matadors tacked on one more in the bottom of the third. Jackson hit a towering fly ball over the left field wall, a solo blast to make it 5-2.

After a scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Cal Poly put up a big number in the top of the sixth.

Leilani Allen opened the frame with a single. A'Niyla Bird smacked a ball over the left field fence to put the Mustangs within one at 5-4.

Sienne Erskine then doubled with a runner on to put two players in scoring position. JJ Pina then walked to set up the bases loaded.

After a fielder's choice, Kiara Blanchard tripled off the right field wall. All three runners on base would score, making it a 7-5 Mustangs lead.

CSUN had six outs to work with down two. After the first batter flied out, Madison Okano clobbered a pitch over the wall in left to cut the lead in half at 7-6. After two walks, Jackson singled and Vanessa Perez scored, tying the game at seven all.

The Matadors were not done by a long shot. After a walk loaded the bases full. Maddie Padilla then reached on a fielder's choice, allowing the lead runner to score as CSUN took the lead at 8-7.

The next batter, Isabella Valdez, flew out to center field on a sac fly as the Matadors extended their lead to 9-7

Next up to the plate, Simons, reached on an error, allowing another run to score and extending the CSUN lead to 10-7.

CSUN capped off its scoring with a Kolkowski single. The final RBI of the inning as CSUN headed into the top of the seventh up 11-7.

Tso reentered the game after being replaced by Williams in the sixth. The freshman got into trouble as she allowed the first three runners to reach base. With the game on the line, Tso came up clutch and retired the next three batters with the bases loaded to win the game, including a foul out to first base to end it.

NOTES OF THE GAME

CSUN had eight hits, including six from the top four batters.
Kolkowski's two RBIs are the first two in her Division-I career.
Okano hit her team-leading fourth home run on the season.
Jackson hit her second home run on the season and second at home.
CSUN batters had four hit-by-pitches in the game.
CSUN has now won two out of three Big West series to start 2026.
The Matadors have beat the Mustangs in two consecutive series going back to 2025.

ACCORDING TO INTERIM HEAD COACH JODIE COX
"What happened in the sixth, is something you can't teach, and we talk a lot about finishing games, and a lot about staying up. We have a good offense and I'm proud of them because it's hard to teach that. Kaitlyn [Tso]'s performance in that last inning was incredible. She's an absolute bulldog out there. She's so confident and that energy radiates to the defense. The players show so much confidence in Kaitlyn and you can feel that in the way she pitches. In terms of our offense, We go as Madison Okano goes. Her swing put us within one run and it really takes the wind out of your sails as a defense. [On what you can build on moving forward] We're never done. As long as we have one out to play with, we're not out of it. Across the conference, no longer shutouts are just not going to happen that often. And we just got to keep fighting, cause as long as we have an out, we have a chance."

UP NEXT
CSUN heads to Honolulu to take on Hawai'i for a three game series beginning on Friday, March 27. First pitch of game one will be 9:00 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on ESPN+. It will be the final Big West regular season meeting between these two teams.