Bakersfield Stops CSUN in Regional

Somewhere hearts are light, somewhere children shout, but there is no joy in Northridge, the mighty Lady Matadors have been knocked out.

Cal State Northridge, which had won eight consecutive softball regionals and four national titles in the 1980s, was ousted from the Western Regional of the NCAA Division II women’s softball tournament Sunday, dropping a 4-1 decision to Bakersfield in the championship game at CSUN.

The top-ranked Lady Matadors, who this season matched the school record of 62 victories, had to win an emotionally draining, nine-inning, 1-0 decision over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo earlier in the day just to reach the regional final. But Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson nonetheless insisted his club was ready for Bakersfield.

“I think we came out pumped,” said Torgeson, who will miss the nationals this season for the first time in his eight years at CSUN. “But Bakersfield has been hot the last part of the season. I’m disappointed, but we’ll be there again.”

Torgeson had hoped to start junior All-American pitcher Debbie Dickmann against Bakersfield. But Dickmann, visibly suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes pain and numbness in the fingers, had barely managed to make it through the first game despite earning the win.

With Dickmann (30-7) unavailable, Torgeson turned to freshman Heather Lindstrom (22-6), who had pitched six innings of a 10-inning, 3-2 loss to Bakersfield on Saturday.

The Roadrunners (35-22), the defending national champions, parlayed two singles and a sacrifice bunt into a run in the second inning, and sophomore right-hander Lisa Drollinger (20-10) made the lead stand up until fifth, when Northridge (62-19) tied the score.

Krista Miller led off the Northridge fifth with a single and was sacrificed to second by Lesley Plank. Lisa Erickson bunted for a single then stole second base before Miller was thrown out at home on Anna Getherall’s attempted squeeze bunt.

Erickson moved to third on the play, then scored when Leilani Artis bunted for an infield hit.

The game remained tied until the seventh, when Bakersfield touched Lindstrom for four singles and a walk, scoring three runs.

Pinch-hitter Michelle McCage led off the CSUN seventh with a single, but Drollinger retired the next three batters to end the game.

“When you make good pitches and they hit it, there’s not a lot you can do,” said Lindstrom, who allowed nine hits and struck out two.

Dickmann allowed three hits in eliminating San Luis Obispo in Sunday’s first game. Northridge won the game on Jamia Berkman’s two-out single that scored Char Schmitt in the bottom of the ninth.

“Our kids battled today,” Torgeson said. “At least we had our opportunities. This gives us something to shoot for next year.”