Sweep Moves CSUN to Within 2 Wins of WAC Title

While the temperature soared into the 90s in the San Fernando Valley Sunday, the Cal State Northridge softball team played it cool.

Despite the fact that Northridge and Sacramento State were essentially playing for the Western Athletic Conference title, the Matadors were in the driver’s seat--and determined to stay there.

The second-ranked Matadors mixed together two outstanding pitching performances, two noteworthy home runs and one bat-around inning and ended up with a doubleheader sweep of Sacramento State, 3-0 and 4-0, in front of about 200 at Northridge.

The WAC sweep moves Northridge (41-6-1, 16-2 in conference) two giant steps closer to earning its first conference title in its inaugural season in a Division I conference.

Northridge, which went Division I in 1991, needs two victories in its final four WAC games to clinch the title. The WAC champion earns an automatic berth to regional playoffs. Second-place Sacramento State (33-18) dropped to 15-5 in conference play.

Northridge’s game-plan was simple: Stay relaxed and the rest will fall into place.

“We know we need to relax to play well,” Northridge first-baseman Tamara Ivie said. “The more relaxed we are, the better we play.”

Ivie, who went two for four on the day and scored three runs, stuck to the game-plan. Her solo home run in the fourth inning of the first game accounted for Northridge’s first run. But, perhaps more importantly, her homer was the team’s 36th of the season, tying the NCAA record for all divisions for season-high home runs. Virginia Union (Division II) hit 36 last year.

Two innings later, freshman Scia Maumausolo blasted a two-run home run over the center field fence for No. 37, making CSUN the most prolific home-run hitting team in NCAA history.

“I’m excited for this team,” Coach Gary Torgeson said. “Some say it’s the new ball and that it isn’t the same. But, so what. So now we’re the first team to break it with the new ball.”

Sophomore right-hander Kathy Blake used a mix of inside fast balls and drops to keep Hornet batters off balance. Blake (17-2) threw a two-hitter and picked up her fourth consecutive victory.

In the second game, Northridge sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored four runs on five hits.

Junior right-hander Amy Windmiller (18-4) allowed five hits and picked up her ninth shutout.