CSUN Thwarted by Pitching Lapses : Softball: Matadors spot Southwestern Louisiana too big a lead in first inning and fall, 6-3.

The Cal State Northridge softball team had been digging holes for itself early in games lately, and Saturday night, the Matadors buried themselves in the quarterfinals of the Fullerton tournament.

Northridge spotted Southwestern Louisiana five runs in the top of the first inning and didn’t recover en route to a 6-3 loss.

Starting pitcher Christina Baioa (7-2) lasted one-third of an inning after walking the first two batters and allowing run-scoring singles to Kathy Morton and Stephanie DeFeo and a three-run home run to Tiffany Whittall.

Baioa was replaced by Jennifer Richardson, who allowed only one run while striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings. Earlier in the day, Richardson had bailed out No. 7 Northridge (23-9) in a 3-2 victory over Kansas.

“A non-start is what that is,” Matador Coach Janet Sherman said. “Every game we do that. One, our defense. Two, our pitching. We can’t afford to do that.”

The No. 14 Lady Cajuns (24-8) advanced to today’s semifinals against No. 6 Cal State Fullerton, while Northridge headed home.

In the early game Saturday, the Matadors also fell behind in the first inning but shut out Kansas the rest of the game behind the pitching of Kathy Blake-Small. The Matadors won, 3-2.

With one out in the top of the first, Blake-Small allowed a chop single to Katie Morgan and a bunt single to Michele Hubler, who was trying to sacrifice.

Blake-Small walked Jacque Wenger on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, then struck out Lora Richardson for the second out. But Kristina Johnson fisted a soft line drive toward the hole on the right side of the infield. Northridge second baseman Lee Ann Taylor flagged it down, but her throw to first was late and two runs scored on the play.

Northridge looked like it would cut into the 2-0 lead in the second inning, when Jennifer Richardson led off with a walk after running the count to 3-2 and fouling off five pitches.

But it was all for naught. Richardson, after being sacrificed to second, was held at third on a sharp single by Tamara Silvera. Silvera was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play, and Kelly Toovey grounded out to end the inning.

But Richardson got another chance in the third and delivered. She came up with two out and the bases loaded.

Richardson doubled to clear the bases.

In anotherf tournament highlight, second baseman Jenny Daulton, a junior from Glendale High, hit a three-run home run (her 15th) as No. 1 Arizona (34-1) defeated Nevada Las Vegas, 8-4.