Northridge Serves Notice in Sweep

In two weeks, Cal State Northridge softball Coach Gary Torgeson will learn whether the Matadors have earned their first berth in the NCAA Division I regional playoffs.

But while Torgeson waits, wonders and theorizes about his team’s chances, the Matadors are taking matters into their own hands in an attempt to convince the NCAA selection committee they belong.

In sweeping 18th-ranked Cal State Sacramento, 2-0 and 8-1, Saturday in a doubleheader at Northridge, the 10th-ranked Matadors moved one step closer to earning a trip to the postseason tournament in only their second Division I season.

“If they’re going to take four teams from the (Pacific) region, I think we’re there,” Torgeson said. “I think we’re in great shape. I think they’re gonna have to give a lot of thought to Cal State Northridge.”

Torgeson will find out if he is correct May 10 when the NCAA committee will decide if Northridge’s 43-21-1 record is worthy of one of six at-large berths in the Western regional.

The Matadors will play host to third-ranked California today and will visit 11th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona in their season finale next week.

In Saturday’s opener, it took only 95 minutes for freshman right-hander Kathy Blake (24-5) and the Matadors to beat Sacramento. Blake scattered four hits and retired the last 11 batters.

While Blake was removing the sting from the Hornets, the Matadors scored all of the game’s runs in the third on Tamara Ivie’s two-run single.

Northridge had to come from behind to beat Sacramento in the second game, which lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours.

The Hornets (36-21) chased starter Jackie Volkert in the second inning with three consecutive hits. After Michelle Madrid’s run-scoring single gave the Hornets a 1-0 lead, senior right-hander Cami Allen came in to stifle Sacramento.

Allen (9-7), who allowed just two hits in six innings, retired the first nine batters she faced before surrendering a walk to Rachelle Manning to start the fifth.

Allen received offensive support in the fifth when the Matadors rallied for eight runs on six hits and three errors.

With the bases loaded and one out, Missy Cress singled up the middle, driving in Beth Calcante (three for three) to tie the score. Cress, who has hit safely in seven consecutive games, has 13 hits in her past 16 at-bats and leads the team with a .466 average with runners in scoring position.

Calcante’s two-run triple capped the scoring for CSUN, which sent 12 batters to the plate in the decisive inning.