CSUN Bolts From WAC Pack : Softball: Matadors’ sweep of New Mexico adds to conference lead as stretch run approaches.

For the first time this season, the Cal State Northridge softball team has some breathing room. Yet a question begs: Is it enough?

As the eighth-ranked Matadors on Saturday swept New Mexico, 6-0 and 7-0, in a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader, Fresno State dropped three of four games to Utah and Southern Utah in two days, allowing first-place Northridge to put some distance between itself and the rest of the conference.

But while the Matadors (37-14, 18-4 in conference play) sit in the driver’s seat heading into their final three WAC doubleheaders, they aren’t out of the woods.

Northridge hits the road Friday to face third-ranked Fresno State (43-15, 15-7) and No. 9 Cal State Sacramento (35-11, 15-7), which are tied for third behind Utah (23-16, 14-6) and the Matadors.

“We have the door open for us in the WAC and need to step up and take charge,” Northridge Coach Janet Sherman said.

The Matador pitching staff certainly took charge against New Mexico (8-32, 2-18). Kathy Blake-Small (19-7) notched her 12th shutout in the opener and lowered her earned-run average to 1.05. The senior right-hander threw a three-hitter and struck out five, and has not walked a batter in 17 1/3 innings.

Jen Richardson (11-4) allowed four hits in the second game.

“Our pitchers are getting stronger,” Sherman said.

But the pitchers aren’t the only players who seem to be peaking at the right time. Jamie Herrington, a Hart High graduate who played sparingly in the first half of the season, has returned to the form that made her the second-most prolific hitter in Southern Section history.

Herrington went four for six and scored five runs in her 19th consecutive start in the leadoff spot.

“I needed to prove to myself that I could do it at this level,” she said.

Though Herrington is hitting .167, Northridge is 14-5 since she started batting leadoff.

“Averages are averages, but it’s more ‘What have you done for me lately’?” Sherman said. “She’s peaking and her confidence level is increasing.”

Northridge struck early in both games, scoring four runs in the first inning of the first game and one in the first inning of the second. The Matadors scored in five of six innings in the second game.