CSUN, Arizona Maintain Pace : Softball World Series: Matadors defeat Utah, 5-1, and could be headed for showdown with the Wildcats.

Although there are at least six--and possibly eight--games to play before the championship of the Women’s Softball College World Series, many are already gearing up to watch the favorites, Arizona and Cal State Northridge, in a possible matchup in Monday’s final.

After second-round victories Friday, only Arizona and Northridge remain unbeaten.

Beth Calcante got Northridge started Friday with a two-run home run in the first inning, and the Matadors stayed on course to earn a 5-1 victory over Utah in front of 2,793 at Hall of Fame Stadium.

For Northridge, it was a much more impressive showing than its first-round victory over Missouri on Thursday.

The Matadors’ eight-hit performance Friday reinforced what Utah Coach Jo Evans already had realized about the Utes’ Western Athletic Conference rival.

Northridge had edged Utah (51-12) for the WAC title on percentage points in the final week of conference play.

“Northridge is a great team,” she said. “They have great pitching, they’re solid defensively and they hit the ball like crazy.

“Northridge came out and played hard. We know they hit the ball well. There’s no surprises when you play Northridge.

“I think they’re gonna give Arizona a great game. I couldn’t say who’s gonna come out and win that one because I think they can both compete.”

Calcante hit her 33rd career home run, just inside the foul pole down the right-field line with one out and Jen Fleming (two for three) aboard in the first.

For Calcante, Northridge’s all-time home run leader, it was a redemption shot that helped her keep pace with her hard-hitting teammates.

“It was exciting because I haven’t felt like I’ve done my part this year,” said Calcante, who uncharacteristically hopped when she rounded first in a show of excitement. “I don’t feel like I put forth my effort as much as I did last year.

“I don’t think my team looks down at me, but I look down at myself.”

The third-ranked Matadors (51-8) added another run in the fourth when pinch-runner Kari Hazlett, running for Shannon Jones who had walked to lead off the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly by Vicky Rios.

Utah rallied in the fourth with the bases loaded and one out. Freshman Cyndee Bennett, a Glendale High graduate who had three of Utah’s five hits, hit a bloop single to right to score Stacie Reynolds.

But junior right-hander Kathy Blake (17-6) retired the next two batters on an infield popup and a grounder to escape.

Blake allowed one unearned run on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Calcante and Fleming scored in the fifth on an illegal pitch and a sacrifice fly by Scia Maumausolo, respectively, to take a 5-1 lead.

For Northridge, the motivation to win was having a free day. Northridge will face either Oklahoma State, Missouri or Fresno State in a semifinal game Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CDT.

If Northridge loses Sunday, it will play the same team later that night and the winner will advance to Monday’s final. Northridge has not lost two consecutive games in the past two seasons.

Utah freshman right-hander Ali Andrus (32-7), who had thrown a one-hitter against Oklahoma State a day earlier, had plenty of problems with the Matadors. Northridge had a runner on base in all but the second inning.

“Their pitcher, I think, is one of the better ones in the country,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “The only edge that we had is we came in with the determination to have the day off tomorrow. (The Matadors) didn’t want to play tomorrow. They wanted the day off.”

Fleming echoed Torgeson’s sentiments.

“This is big business here. You get in the losers’ bracket and you’re playing forever all day.”