Northridge Blanked Twice, No-Hit Once by UCLA

Cal State Northridge was shut out by UCLA in the first game of a softball doubleheader Wednesday, and matters only got worse in the second game.

After falling, 3-0, in the first game, the Matadors (1-3) were no-hit by Bruin standout Lisa Fernandez in a 2-0 loss.

Fernandez’s bid for a perfect game was ruined in the seventh inning when Northridge center fielder Jen Fleming reached base on an error by shortstop Kristy Howard.

The second game was scoreless until the fourth inning when Howard led off with a single, reached second on an error by Northridge second baseman Denise Swank and scored on a double to center field by Yvonne Gutierrez.

The Bruins (2-0) scored again in the seventh when Fernandez singled, reached second on an error by left fielder Kim Oakes, advanced to third on an error by Swank and scored on a single to right by pinch-hitter Felicia Cruz.

“When you are playing against a team like that you have to play errorless ball,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “It is just a matter of practice, more repetition.”

In the first game, Northridge pitcher Kathy Blake shut out the Bruins for five innings. But that scoreless stretch, from the second through sixth innings, proved too little, too late. UCLA had taken a 3-0 first-inning lead on four hits, including a run-scoring double by Gutierrez.

An error by third baseman Amy Colton also contributed to the Bruins’ lead. Northridge made four errors in the two games.

The Matadors’ best chance to score against UCLA pitcher Heather Compton came in the third when Colton drew a walk and Fleming hit a one-out single to left. But Terri Pearson struck out on a changeup and Beth Calcante grounded out to shortstop.

Compton finished with seven strikeouts and a four-hitter.

“We have a good hitting team,” Torgeson said. “We just haven’t gotten our (slap hitters) going. We have to get better and we will get better.”

Northridge first baseman Tamara Ivie said that Fernandez’s pitches move even more this season than they did in 1991 when she went 20-3 with an 0.25 earned-run average.

“I’m honored she said that because I discovered how to throw a rise ball,” said Fernandez, named the nation’s top player last season.

Unfortunately, the Matadors were the guinea pigs.