Punchless CSUN Pays Steep Price for Failure to Sacrifice

The future does indeed look bright for the young Cal State Northridge softball team. But until the Matadors learn to execute the sacrifice bunt, they’ll be considered nothing more than an also-ran at the Division I level.

The Matadors (24-21) lost to Cal State Fullerton, 3-0, and Cal Poly Pomona, 1-0, before rebounding for a 9-1 victory over Akron in the PONY tournament at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.

The quarterfinal loss to Fullerton dropped the Matadors to the consolation bracket, where they met Pomona. In that game, the Broncos scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to spoil the Matadors’ chances of successfully defending last year’s consolation championship.

Northridge, which does not have a senior on its roster, out-hit Pomona, 5-3, but failed to score, extending its scoreless streak to 18 innings.

“I’ll tell you what we’ve been hurt on in games today and yesterday,” Coach Gary Torgeson said. “We cannot get the darn sacrifice bunt down.”

The Pomona game offered ample evidence to back Torgeson’s thought. Jen Fleming singled to right with one out in the fourth, but Patti Pearson put a damper on the scoring opportunity when she popped up the first pitch trying to bunt.

An inning later, Kim Oakes led off with a single, but Denise Swank popped up her bunt attempt to first. To make matters worse, first baseman Steph Fleischaker doubled off pinch-runner Kelly Martin, who was nearly at second when Fleischaker made the catch.

“It’s taken us right out of so many situations,” Torgeson said. “It’s kind of been a problem all year. When you’re in one-run games, you’ve got to get that runner to second base.”

Pomona (11-21) played textbook softball in the fourth to score its lone run. Fleischaker walked and Nicky Luce advanced her to second with a bunt. After a groundout, Fleischaker scored on an error.

Against seventh-ranked Fullerton (28-7), the Matadors were no match for pitcher Tiffany Boyd (16-2), who allowed just three hits. Freshman Beth Calcante singled in the second and fourth innings for the Matadors.

In an extra consolation game, the Matadors used nine hits to beat Akron (3-12). The Rips finished 1-5 in the tournament.