Uninspired Northridge Wins Twice

Asked what he thought of Cal State Northridge’s play against Cal State Sacramento Friday, Coach Gary Torgeson used one word for every error the Matadors committed in the Western Athletic Conference softball doubleheader.

“We played ugly and won,” said Torgeson, after watching the Matadors sweep Sacramento, 3-2 in 12 innings and 2-0, despite a lackluster effort.

“We made more mental and physical mistakes today than we have made all year,” Torgeson said.

Sixth-ranked Northridge (25-4, 4-0 in conference play), the defending WAC champion, made five throwing and fielding errors, but there were several other missed batting assignments and baserunning mistakes that kept the Matadors from taking any real pride in the victories.

Northridge faces conference rival Fresno State today at 1:30 p.m. in Fresno to complete the Matadors’ toughest road trip of the season. Northridge will have to clean up its act quickly if it hopes to beat the fifth-ranked Bulldogs, who won’t soon forget their loss to the Matadors in last year’s regional playoff.

Senior Beth Calcante, who went three for five in the first game, hopes the Matadors’ uninspired play improves in time to beat the Bulldogs.

“Maybe this is rock bottom and we’re gonna build up from here,” Calcante said.

The Matadors scored twice in the fifth inning of the first game on a run-scoring single by Calcante and a subsequent Hornet throwing error to take a 2-1 lead.

But the Hornets (17-13, 4-2) tied it, 2-2, in the sixth. With two out and runners at first and second, Tara Peterson knocked the ball out of first baseman Tamara Ivie’s glove as she ran past the bag, trying to beat out a ground ball.

Lynn Lohmeier scored from second with the tying run on the error.

The Hornets went for the victory, sending home Threse Sheaman as well. Right fielder Terri Pearson picked up the loose ball in foul territory and nailed Sheaman at the plate.

The Matadors had stranded 12 runners after 11 innings. Calcante led off the 12th with a single, stole second, advanced to third on Ivie’s deep fly to right and scored on Scia Maumausolo’s sacrifice fly to center.

After a combined 23 hits and eight errors, both teams knuckled down in the second game, which proved to be much more of a pitcher’s duel.

Senior Amy Windmiller (13-1), playing in her hometown for the first time as a Matador, pitched a four-hitter and struck out eight.

Northridge wasted little time offensively, scoring Pearson in the first on a suicide squeeze by Ivie.

The Matadors added another run in the seventh when pinch-runner Shelby Wilcox scored on an error.

Windmiller, who didn’t get to play in Sacramento last season because of rain, has not given up an earned run in 67 1/3 innings.