CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE SOFTBALL PREVIEW : Pitching Rotation, Balance Tied to Surprise Package

The Cal State Northridge women’s softball team will open its season with a doubleheader against visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 1:30 p.m. today sporting a lineup Coach Gary Torgeson expects to deliver a few surprises.

Rather than using a short game relying on slap hitting and speed, the Matadors will depend on players who can provide some power hitting. And, for the first time in nine seasons, CSUN will use a pitching rotation.

“We’ve got more balance in our lineup than we’ve ever had before,” Torgeson said, “but the footnote is that we’re not any different than any other top 20 team in Division I. The question is whether we can make it work for us.”

After a successful run as a small-college power--the Matadors won four national championships in their final eight seasons in Division II--CSUN enters its inaugural Division I campaign with hopes of qualifying for the regionals.

“We’re in a good position,” Torgeson said. “If we win, it’s great. If we don’t, we’re not expected to because it’s our first year out. I know what kind of athletes we’ve got. We’ve got athletes that can win.”

Last season, Northridge was 51-21 overall, 13-11 against Division I teams.

As it has in the past, Northridge will rely heavily on pitching. Despite the loss of four-time All-American Debbie Dickmann, who completed her eligibility, Torgeson has three quality pitchers in Cami Allen, Heather Lindstrom and Pamela Barr.

Allen, a transfer from Palomar College, will start in today’s first game. Lindstrom, 14-7 for CSUN last season, will start the second game. Lindstrom recorded 68 strikeouts and a 1.46 earned-run average as a sophomore.

“This year we have three very strong pitchers,” Torgeson said. “They all have different strengths.”

Similarly, Northridge has a varied attack on offense.

Junior Patti Pearson tops the Matadors’ hit list. She batted .283 last season with 16 runs batted in. Lisa Ferracone (.282), Jeanne Mixon (.258), Leilani Artis (.230), Danielle Wood (.229) and Denise Swank (.178) also contributed last season.

Although San Luis Obispo is a Division II team, Torgeson believes it will be beneficial for the Matadors to have some game experience before facing UCLA, the three-time defending national champion, Wednesday.

“The opening is important, to play a good quality team, but one that I felt we had a good chance of doing well against,” Torgeson said.

Also, with three freshmen and a junior college transfer tentatively set for the starting lineup, today’s doubleheader will provide the first opportunity for the team to play as an unit.

“They’ve been practicing hard, working hard and seem to be coming together,” Torgeson said, “but the thing you are never sure of until you get into the game, is how you will play.”