Matadors Gear Up for Non-Conference Showdown Against Lancers

RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team (9-19, 5-7 Big West) is set to take on the California Baptist Lancers (27-12), Tuesday night at John C. Funk Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. CSUN is looking to find the win column after the series loss against the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine this past weekend.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN fell in its three games against Hawai'i in Honolulu on Friday and Saturday. Highlights included in game two of the series with pitcher Malia Williams delivering a season best performance. She went all six innings, allowing two earned runs, and striking out a season-high six while allowing only four hits. Another highlight included Hawai'i native Makenzie Kila driving in two runs in the defeat during game three. Lastly, CSUN rode the back of freshman Alizae Cole who relieved Kaitlyn Tso in the first inning of game three and with no outs. Cole would finish the game, striking out two while allowing four earned runs.

RAEGAN TAKING ON HER ROLE AS THE LEADER
Raegan Jackson is one of the longest tenured Matadors on the team. She is a certified leader with her presence but also her play as well. After being named a 2025 All-Big West Honorable Mention, she has not lost a beat in her senior season in 2026. Jackson has 30 hits in the 28 games played so far and is currently ninth in the Big West in batting average at .390. She has 12 stolen bases in 12 chances including stealing three bags against Portland State on February 8, which was a career high.

MADISON OKANO - THE SPARKPLUG
"We go as Madison Okano goes," said Interim Head Coach Jodie Cox after the last series win against Cal Poly at Matador Diamond. CSUN had five outs to work with down two runs on Sunday, March 22 and Okano came up clutch. She clobbered a pitch over the wall in left to cut the lead in half at 7-6. It sparked the Matador offense. CSUN would go on to score six runs in the inning to win the game 11-7. A junior transfer from Gilbert, Ariz., Okano played 20 games last season in her backyard at Arizona State. Okano was one of Coach Cox's biggest commits in the offseason, and she has proven to be a force. She leads the team in homers at four. She is second on the team in Big West in batting average at .347 and fourth on the team in OPS at .974.

ONE-TWO PUNCH IN THE CIRCLE
Williams and Tso have logged the majority of innings in the circle this season for the Matadors. Tso has pitched 90 and Williams has pitched 61 innings out of the total 178 innings played. Tso is leading the team in ERA at a 4.12 clip. Williams has a 5.85 ERA in 15 games started. In the series win over Cal Poly two weeks ago, both players threw their season high for innings in one game. Tso pitched eight innings in an extra-inning win against Cal Poly on March 21, while Williams pitched all seven innings in a close 2-3 defeat against those same Mustangs.

SCOUTING CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers enter Tuesday's matchup with a 27-12 overall record, and they already have more wins than 2025. They are currently 7-1 against Big West opponents so far this season. Makayla Medellin is their big leader with the bat. She is currently batting .356 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.

Another threat in their lineup is Kenzie Farrier-Pilon who is batting .377 with 62 total bases. Both Medellin and Farrier-Pilon have played in a team leading 38 games.

In the circle, Lancer pitchers are only giving up 2.90 runs per game. Miranda De Nava is one of the top pitchers on the team as she holds a 12-5 record with a 2.31 ERA. She has nine complete games and four shutouts in 124.1 innings pitched.

Series History: The Lancers have a narrow edge over the Matadors, having won five times and lost three times. CSUN lost its last matchup with CBU in 2025 by a 2-3 score at home.

Matadors Gear Up for Non-Conference Showdown Against Lancers

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Players Mentioned

Alizae Cole

Raegan Jackson

Madison Okano

Kaitlyn Tso

Malia Williams

California State University Northridge Athletics