Northridge Earns Split, Sets Sights on Softball Title

Had it been a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. game there undoubtedly would have been many forlorn looks and bowed heads after Cal State Northridge’s 3-2 loss to Cal State Sacramento in the second game of a nonconference doubleheader at Lady Matador Field on Friday.

But Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson was not overly concerned that the Lady Matadors, who won the first game, 2-0, had blown a one-run lead and a nine-game winning streak--in the seventh inning of the second game.

“With the (conference doubleheaders) coming up this weekend, these were basically practice games for us,” Torgeson said. “I would have used Debbie (Dickmann) in relief in the second game if this had been conference, but I didn’t think that would have been fair to her. She’ll pitch plenty this weekend.”

Dickmann, the Lady Matadors’ three-time NCAA Division II All-American, allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one in the opener to improve to 19-7. It was her 14th shutout of the season.

She is scheduled to start the first game, and pitch in relief in the second game, if necessary, of CCAA doubleheaders against UC Riverside (today) and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Sunday) at home this weekend.

With a 13-1 record in CCAA play, Northridge can clinch a share of its ninth consecutive conference title with one win against Riverside or San Luis Obispo.

Two victories would give Northridge an undisputed eighth CCAA title in the past nine years.

In the second game against Sacramento (30-22), Heather Lindstrom pitched the first six innings, but, after giving up four hits and a run in the sixth, Torgeson brought in De Dow to pitch the seventh.

Lesley Plank’s run-scoring double in the bottom of the sixth had given Northridge (39-18) a 2-1 lead, but Dow (7-5) gave up four hits and two runs in relief.

“I felt like Heather was getting the ball up too much,” Torgeson said. “And De is usually a good low-ball pitcher. But today, she wasn’t. She just served them up.”

Toni Heisler started the Lady Hornet seventh-inning rally with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Terrie Eagleston and scored on Lori Avis’ single.

Renee Havey’s single put runners at first and second, and, after Lenita Fortenberry grounded to third, Shannon Padovan singled in Avis from third.

Anna Getherall (three for four) singled with two out in the seventh for Northridge, but Erin McGuire flew out to center to end the game.

Getherall, who started the day batting .238, was two for three and scored a run in the opener and made several key defensive plays at shortstop.

Eagleston singled to start the third, but Getherall ran down a high chopper by Avis, stepped on second and gunned the ball to first to complete the double play.

Getherall, an All-CCAA selection last season, scored the only run Dickmann would need in the first, tripling with one out and scoring on McGuire’s groundout to short. The Lady Matadors added a run in the second when Plank singled in Jeannie Mixon.

Dickmann did not allow a runner past first in the last six innings, retiring the side in order in the third, fourth and sixth.

“Debbie struggled a little at the start,” Torgeson said. “But she was overpowering in the last four or five innings.”