CSUN Wraps Up Home Contests With Crucial Series Against the UC San Diego Tritons

GAME NOTES
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- The CSUN softball team is gearing up to take on the UC San Diego Tritons at Matador Diamond, Friday and Saturday afternoon. This is a pivotal series that could determine the last playoff spot for the Big West Softball Championship. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday with first pitch taking place at 1:00 p.m. The second game will follow 30 minutes after the first. Then, the series will wrap up on Senior Day Saturday with a single game taking place at 1:00 p.m. All games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

FOR STARTERS
CSUN has a 12-28 overall record and enters this week of play tied for the sixth spot in the Big West standings with UC San Diego at 7-14. This series would determine a tiebreaker between the two teams and give one team sole possession of sixth place. The top six seeds advance to the postseason at the Big West Championship.

LAST TIME OUT
CSUN got swept by UC Santa Barbara on the road last weekend. A bright spot in the series came in the final game. It was a 1-0 pitcher's duel that CSUN would be on the wrong side of, but Malia Williams tossed a complete game and only allowed one earned run with two strikeouts while giving up only three hits.

In the opening game of the series, CSUN only lost by one as well, 4-3. Raegan Jackson had two RBIs in game one while Isabella Hiner added an RBI as well.

HELP, THERE IS A KILA ON THE LOOSE
2026 is proving to be a redemption year for senior Mackenize Kila. After not playing in any games in 2025, Kila has been a spark for this year's Matador squad. The Hawai'i native's contributions were on full display against her hometown team in the Rainbow Wahine. Her two RBIs against Hawai'i earned her a spot in the lineup. Here are coach Jodie Cox's comments on Kila during that series: "I just want to say that Kila earned that opportunity, it wasn't just given to her. As a staff, we needed a spark. She earned that opportunity and she seized the moment, that's just who Kila is." Since Hawai'i, Kila has had multiple two-RBI games and in the last series against UC Davis, she had a career high three hits in the first game of the series. She has 18 hits on the season.

SENIOR MALIA WILLIAMS IS THE ANCHOR IN THE CIRCLE
Malia Williams has been solid in the circle this season for the Matadors. She is currently fifth in the Big West in innings pitched at 101.2. She is 12th in the Big West in strikeouts at 38. She started in 22 games and completed seven of them. She was on the mound for both games of a doubleheader sweep against UC Davis earlier this season, and went toe-to-toe with UCSB, pitching two complete games against the defending champions. The senior is also 14th in the Big West in ERA at 4.68.

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. Two weeks ago at UC Davis, Jackson slugged two home runs over the left field wall which came in pivotal moments against the Aggies. She also made a couple of diving defensive plays that kept the Aggie outbursts at bay. She has 34 hits in 38 games played. She leads the team in doubles with seven, and leads the team in RBIs with 19. She is also 14-14 on stolen base attempts.

SCOUTING UC SAN DIEGO
Offensively, the Tritons are very strong. UC San Diego's offense has been one of the most productive in the Big West, ranking inside the top four in multiple categories, including a .304 team batting average, .452 slugging percentage, 218 runs scored, 31 home runs, 11 triples, and 208 RBIs.

Maalia Cherry has been a key contributor for UCSD at the plate this season. She ranks among the Big West leaders in home runs (12) and walks (27), while sitting third in RBIs (40). Cherry is currently batting .349 on the year.

Pitching wise, UCSD has a 5.52 ERA on the season. The Tritons have given up the fourth most runs in the Big West at 231. Their best pitcher and expected game one starter, Callie Howard has a 4.09 ERA on the year.

SERIES HISTORY
CSUN currently has a 14-6 advantage over UCSD. CSUN won two out of three in San Diego in 2025.

CSUN Wraps Up Home Contests With Crucial Series Against the UC San Diego Tritons

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Players Mentioned

Isabella Hiner

Raegan Jackson

Malia Williams

California State University Northridge Athletics