Lindstrom’s Shutout Gives CSUN Split With Long Beach in Softball

After being shut out by 14th-ranked Cal State Long Beach, 7-0, in the first game of Tuesday’s softball doubleheader at Mayfair Park in Lakewood, Cal State Northridge rebounded to win the second game, 1-0, in eight innings.

“The first game was ugly,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “The second game was great. We looked like two different teams out there.”

Jeanne Mixon scored the game’s only run in the second game after opening the top of the eighth with a double. She came around to score on Michelle Blaha’s sacrifice and Jan Fleming’s fielder’s choice.

Northridge’s Heather Lindstrom threw a four-hitter in the second game but had to survive a Long Beach rally in the bottom of the eighth when she walked the first two batters.

Stacy Van Essen hit into a fielder’s choice to leave runners at first and second with one out, then Lindstrom (12-6) escaped damage when she retired the next two batters on a shallow fly ball to center and a ground out to shortstop.

Van Essen (10-3) pitched a two-hitter for Long Beach (26-20) in the first game. Northridge is 27-24.