Jordan Leads CSUN to a Sweep in Softball

Two games into the season, the Cal State Northridge women’s softball team was still looking for its first victory. And its first run.

The Lady Matadors were shut out in a doubleheader at Cal Poly Pomona earlier this week, but Saturday, against Nevada Las Vegas, they brushed up on their offense.

CSUN came away with 1-0 and 4-1 wins on its home field and looked like the Northridge teams that have won three consecutive NCAA Division II championships.

“This was nice because we played so poorly against Pomona,” CSUN Coach Gary Torgeson said.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better situation at the end of that first game. Barbara Jordan is a pressure ballplayer.”

It was Jordan, the Lady Matadors’ All-American center fielder, who singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The junior delivered the hit after second baseman Kim Bernstein had singled and reached second on a sacrifice.

“I wasn’t trying to do anything special,” said Jordan, who had two singles. “I just wanted to get a hit. I try to play for the moment.”

Jordan also had a bat in the Lady Matadors’ second victory.

Bernstein led off the third inning by reaching base on an error and moved to second when third baseman Barb Flynn singled off former Newbury Park High pitcher Derinda Brunk.

Jordan, arguably the team’s best hitter, layed down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third. Lori Shelly singled in Bernstein, and Priscilla Rouse drove in the second run of the inning when she grounded out to second.

The Lady Matadors scored twice in the fourth inning without a hit.

Lisa Martin and Delanee Anderson each pitched complete games for the Lady Matadors.

Martin, a transfer from Arizona State, gave up four hits and had six strikeouts. The sophomore from Irvine was supposed to be redshirted this season. But after the losses to Pomona, Torgeson decided he could use another strikeout pitcher in his rotation to go along with three-time All-American Kathy Slaten, who will make her season debut today against Cal State Long Beach.

Anderson, also a sophomore, gave up four hits and had three strikeouts.

First Game NEVADA LAS VEGAS--Carlson and Weddle.

CS NORTHRIDGE--Martin and Gray.

WP--Martin (1-0); LP--Carlson (0-1).

Second Game NEVADA LAS VEGAS--Brunk and Hernandez.

CS NORTHRIDGE--Anderson and Gray (5) Goddell.

WP--Anderson (1-1); LP--Brunk (0-1).