Northridge Still in Playoff Picture After Softball Split With Oregon

In Cal State Northridge’s first year of softball at the NCAA Division I level, Coach Gary Torgeson has predicted his team must win at least 40 games to merit consideration for a postseason playoff berth.

On Wednesday, the Matadors moved closer to that goal, splitting a doubleheader against 16th-ranked Oregon at Northridge. CSUN is 25-22 with 20 games to play.

The Matadors won the first game, 3-2, then rallied from a 7-2 deficit before losing the second game, 7-6.

“We have to get some wins (against West Coast schools) to get a regional berth,” Torgeson said. “I’m happy with our performance.”

Cami Allen, who has pitched eight games in the past 10 days--including both ends of a doubleheader last Saturday in the PONY tournament--earned the win in the first game to improve to 8-11. Allen allowed six hits and struck out three.

“I was so tired that I was just hoping we got more runs than they did,” Allen said.

Trailing, 1-0, in the bottom of the fourth, the Matadors scored three times. Denise Swank opened the CSUN scoring by driving home Tamara Ivie from second with a line drive to center.

Two batters later, a wild pitch allowed Beth Calcante to score from third and two pitches after that, shortstop Jennifer Topham’s error allowed Swank to score.

In the second game, the Ducks took a 7-2 lead, scoring three runs in the first and three more in sixth. The Matadors answered with four runs in their half of the sixth to cut the margin to 7-6.

CSUN had an opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Ivie doubled and moved to third on Kim Oakes’ sacrifice fly. But Swank lined back to the box to end the game.

Junior pitcher Heather Lindstrom (11-5) allowed 14 hits and was charged with the loss.

Northridge will have 10 days off before facing Cal Poly Pomona in a doubleheader at Northridge. The team is looking forward to the time off after playing 47 games in seven weeks.

“We need to rest because we’ve played so much in the early season,” Torgeson said. “Our pitchers are still pitching tired. Only time can help them.”