Northridge Wins 3 Games in Softball Tournament

The Cal State Northridge softball team is at it again.

The defending NCAA Division II champions shut out three opponents Friday in the first round of pool play at the sixth CSUN Tournament of Champions.

Northridge’s dominance is nothing new. The top-ranked Lady Matadors have won the tournament every year since it began and their 10-0 victory over Southern Utah State, 8-0 rout of Cal State Dominguez Hills and 4-0 win over Chico State indicates strongly that the streak will continue.

Lisa Martin threw a no-hitter and struck out seven in the win over Southern Utah.

“I was pretty happy,” said Martin (9-1), who pitched a perfect game against UC Riverside earlier this season. “I’ve had a lot of good games behind me lately and I have a lot of confidence in what I can do--and I’m confident in my teammates.”

The Lady Matadors (24-9) did nothing to betray the senior right-hander’s confidence, mounting a 14-hit attack against Southern Utah. Lisa Erickson led Northridge with three hits and a run batted in. Pam Smith, Andi Goodell and Beth Onestinghel all had two hits. Onestinghel’s triple in the third inning extended her single-season, school record to eight.

The worst part of the assault for hapless Southern Utah came in the fourth inning. The Lady Matadors scored seven runs on seven hits and capitalized on three Thunderbird errors.

In its rout of Chico State, Northridge used an 11-hit attack and scored three runs in the first inning and another three in the fifth. Erickson hit an inside-the-park home run in the third to put the Lady Matadors ahead, 5-0.

Tracey Fox earned a complete-game win against Chico State to improve her record to 3-2.

Debbie Dickmann (8-2) gave Northridge another strong pitching performance in its win over Dominguez Hills. The sophomore right-hander tossed a two-hitter and struck out five while issuing just two walks.

Anna Getherall led the offense with three hits and an RBI and Onestinghel had a two-run double.

In other pool play Friday, Cal Lutheran enjoyed some success with a 7-3 win over UC Riverside and a 4-3 victory against Cal State Hayward.