CSUN Ready to Utilize Its Experience : College softball: Veteran Matadors expect a better fate this time in Division I World Series.

The wide-eyed giddiness of last year’s Cal State Northridge softball team is long gone. Earning a berth in the NCAA Division I College World Series was expected this year.

This is virtually the same team that ventured to Oklahoma City last year for Northridge’s first Division I World Series appearance. The team was ranked No. 2 in the country and had set an NCAA record for home runs. But the Matadors came home early, embarrassed by losing two of three games.

This time, the Matadors, ranked No. 3 and seeded second in the tournament with a 49-8 record, believe that history will not repeat itself. With eight returning starters and a strong track record against the World Series field, they expect a better showing. Northridge opens the tournament against Missouri on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. PDT.

Of the seven other teams in the World Series, Northridge has defeated six in its last meeting between the schools. The Matadors have never played Illinois-Chicago (56-17-1), seeded eighth.

Against fourth-seeded UCLA, No. 5 Fresno State, No. 6 Utah and No. 7 Missouri, the Matadors are 8-2 this season. They swept doubleheaders against UCLA and Missouri, won three of four against Fresno State and split a doubleheader with Utah.

Northridge did not play top-seeded Arizona (60-3), the defending national champion, and No. 3 Oklahoma State (49-10). However, the Matadors faced Arizona and Oklahoma State last year in tournament play and Northridge won both games.

“We’ve seen a lot of them,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “We kind of owe Utah and you know how it is with Fresno. It’s a war. I think we look real good going in.”

Fullerton Coach Judi Garman, whose Titans lost to Northridge, 4-0, in the regional championship game Sunday, said the Matadors will benefit from last year’s experience in the World Series.

“It’s been said that you have to go to the College World Series at least once to get the flavor of it to be successful,” she said. “I think last year that was evident. They didn’t play nearly up to their potential. They have the experience now.”

Torgeson takes much of the blame for the Matadors’ poor performance last year. He faults himself for failing to prepare his team for the 5,000-plus crowds and the fanfare that accompanies the biggest event in college softball.

“My goal is to keep them as level as I can and not get them stressed out, and play that last game. It’s a one-game deal. Once you get there, it’s anybody’s ballgame,” he said.

The bracket format has been changed this year to accommodate live coverage of the championship game on ESPN2, set for Monday at noon PDT. The championship game will match an undefeated team and a team with one loss.

Northridge made a rookie mistake last year when the Matadors looked beyond their first-round opponent, Southwestern Louisiana, losing, 4-2.

Torgeson vows the Matadors will not overlook Missouri, a team they swept, 8-1, 12-0, in March.

“I don’t think we’re gonna lose the first game,” Torgeson said. “I think that will be in the back of their minds.”

Torgeson has not picked a starting pitcher for the opener, but he has three capable arms from which to choose. The team earned-run average is 0.35.

Senior right-hander Amy Windmiller (24-2) leads the nation with an 0.28 ERA and has 185 strikeouts in 178 innings.

Junior right-hander Kathy Blake (0.52 ERA) is 16-6, and sophomore right-hander Jennifer Richardson (9-0, 0.21) has a 16-0 career record.

If it were up to Garman, the winningest coach in the country, Windmiller would get the nod.

“Windmiller is the key,” Garman said. “When you get to that level, pitching is the key. If she stifles everybody else the way she did us, they’ve got a real good shot.”