College Roundup : Error Helps Northridge to Softball Split

A throwing error by shortstop Ellen Frank allowed two runs to score, giving Cal State Northridge a crucial 3-2, 10-inning win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a split of a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. doubleheader at CSUN on Sunday.

With the bases loaded and one out, freshman Heather MacTavish grounded to Frank, who threw wildly to the plate in an effort to force Lesley Plank. The ball skipped by catcher Kelly McInerney, allowing Lisa Erickson to score the winning run.

“All I wanted to do was put the ball in play and let the defense make the mistake. And that’s exactly what happened,” said MacTavish, who entered the game after four innings when starting catcher Char Schmitt became ill.

With the doubleheader split, Northridge (49-15, 13-3 in conference play) needs to win just two of its remaining four conference games to clinch its eighth consecutive CCAA title.

Cal Poly SLO (24-10-1, 12-5-1) got a well-pitched game from sophomore Laura Fawcett and took advantage of some shoddy CSUN fielding to win the opener, 3-1.

Fawcett (6-5), from Tujunga, gave up a first-inning run on two hits, but settled down and gave up just four hits the rest of the way.

CSUN pitcher Heather Lindstrom scattered four hits, but a walk, an error, Lori Peterson’s double and a sacrifice fly from Missi Cole produced two runs for the Lady Mustangs in the third.

Cal Poly SLO, needing a second-game win to take over the CCAA lead, struck early against CSUN starter Debbie Dickmann. Frank was hit by a pitch to start the second inning and, after an error by Michelle Blaha, came around to score an unearned run on Alison Murray’s ground out.

CSUN tied the game an inning later on two singles, an illegal pitch and Anna Getherall’s run-scoring ground out to second.

In baseball action:

CS Sacramento 4, CS Northridge 1: After stranding 10 runners in a nonconference loss at Matador Field, Northridge hits the road today for an important CCAA game at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

The Matadors, third in conference at 10-10-1, will pitch Fili Martinez against the first-place Mustangs (14-8) today at 4.

Sacramento State (30-13), ranked No. 3 in the last Division II baseball poll, struck for three runs in the third off CSUN starter Vale Lopez (4-7) Sunday. Brian Fichtner’s two-run double just inside the third-base line was the big blow.

CSUN (23-14-1 overall) scored against Mike Frame (4-1) in the sixth on a single, a double, a walk and Randy Thompson’s bases-loaded bouncer up the middle.