CSUN Opens Up Big West Play at Home Against UC Riverside

GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- CSUN Softball (4-12) is hosting a three-game series against UC Riverside (2-12) this weekend to kick off Big West play. The Matadors will battle the Highlanders in a doubleheader on Friday with first pitch of game one at 1:00 p.m. and first pitch of game two at 3:00 p.m. The series will conclude with a third game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. All games will take place at Matador Diamond. The doubleheader will be streamed on ESPN+.

ABOUT LAST WEEK
CSUN went 1-3 in the inaugural Reggie Smith Invitational hosted by the University of San Diego from February 27-March 1. CSUN's lone win of the tournament came in the first game against San Diego State where the Matadors won 3-1 against the Aztecs. It was a game where Isabella Hiner had two RBIs and Malia Williams got the win by going five innings while giving up six hits and striking out two.

CSUN fell in its next three games to Kansas City, Washington and San Diego. Outfielder Raegan Jackson was the most consistent hitter of the weekend. She managed to get hits in every single game that the Matadors played.

HINER IS OFF TO A ROARING START
Isabella Hiner is off to a fast start in her collegiate career. The freshman is currently fifth in the Big West in batting average with a .414 clip. She had two multi-RBI games in both wins in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, as well as another multi-RBI game in the Reggie Smith Invitational. She has only struck out three times in 26 at-bats and she has hit safely in six out of the last seven games she has played. On defense, she has been perfect, with 30 putouts in 30 chances.

RAEGAN TAKING ON HER ROLE AS THE LEADER
Raegan Jackson is the longest tenured Matador 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 here in 2026. She has hits in 14 out of the 16 games played so far and is currently fourth in the Big West in batting average at .422. She has eight stolen bases in eight chances including stealing three bags against Portland State on February 8, which was a career high.

TSO MIGHT BE THE ANCHOR IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman Kaitlyn Tso is showing why her number might be called the most by the Matadors' pitching coaches this season. Tso currently has appeared in 12 games, started in six, and thrown two complete games with three saves. She struck out a season-high five batters against Saint Mary's on February 13, and she's struck out 20 batters total on the season. Have we mentioned that she's only a freshman?

ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE
The Highlanders are off to a bit of a rough start in 2026. They are 2-12 on the season, which is tied for last in the Big West. UC Riverside has a team batting average of .207, which is last in the Big West. The Highlanders have a team ERA of 7.60. Lauren Mendez is one of the top pitchers on the team, posting a 4.45 ERA over eight games.

Leading the team in batting average is the tandem of Aubrey Marx and Haley Saole. They both have a .294 average at the plate. UCR has yet to hit a home run this season.

The two wins for the Highlanders came against Utah Tech on February 7 where it won 11-6 and UNLV on February 27 where it won 6-5.

Series History: CSUN is currently 43-16 all-time against UCR. In 2025, CSUN won the series by taking two out of the three games in Riverside from March 28-29.

CSUN Opens Up Big West Play at Home Against UC Riverside

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Hiner

Raegan Jackson

Kaitlyn Tso

Malia Williams

California State University Northridge Athletics