NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL REGIONAL : CSUN Splits, Stays Alive in Playoffs

Cal State Fullerton turned the tables on the Cal State Northridge softball team and in the Matadors’ own ballpark.

Now the cleat is on the other foot, so to speak.

Fullerton defeated Northridge, 1-0, Saturday in a second-round regional playoff game and made the Matadors fight their way back to the championship through the losers’ bracket.

But Northridge was up for the challenge. The Matadors pounded 10 hits and got another clutch pitching performance from Kathy Blake-Small to defeat Illinois State, 11-4, nearly 5 1/2 hours after the loss to Fullerton.

Seventh-ranked Northridge (43-16) will face No. 3 Fullerton (44-15) today at 12:30 p.m. in a championship showdown. The Matadors need to beat Fullerton twice to advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, May 25-29.

More than one Matador is expecting a doubleheader.

“I’m planning on a long day tomorrow,” said Northridge catcher Scia Maumausolo, who went three for four in the two games, including a grand slam against Illinois State.

“I think we’re gonna come out here and play with all we’ve got.”

A year ago on the same field, the Matadors sent Fullerton to the losers’ bracket after a second-round victory in a regional playoff tournament and it was the Titans who had to fight their way back.

Although the Titans forced a second game with a 2-0 victory

on the final day, Northridge prevailed in a winner-take-all contest, 4-0.

But a year later, the Matadors were unable to put anything together against the Titans, whom they have beaten only once in four games this season. Fullerton swept the Matadors, 5-3 and 6-0, in a nonconference doubleheader at Northridge Feb. 5.

And first-year Northridge Coach Janet Sherman hasn’t forgotten it.

“This [will be] a doubleheader we owe them from the first part of the season,” she said. “That left an imprint and we’ve got to pay them back.”

The Titans bunched three of their six hits in the first inning to score an earned run off Blake-Small for an early lead, which was threatened only in the third and seventh innings.

No. 3 hitter Chris Zboril started a rally with a two-out single to left. Senetha Thomas’ grounder through the left side set up Shannon Dolan’s run-scoring single up the middle.

That was all the Titans needed.

Northridge had six singles off senior right-hander Jennifer Mortensen (22-6), but didn’t have more than one in an inning.

Chelo Lopez had a chance to tie it in the third. With two out and Julie Sessler at third, Mortensen intentionally walked Maumausolo to get to Lopez. But the freshman slugger, who homered Friday, grounded to the shortstop for the third out.

“We didn’t get the key hits in key situations,” Lopez said. “There are times you want to drop your shoulder and hit it out, but sometimes all you need is a base hit.

“I tried to choke up and make good contact, but it just didn’t happen.”

But hours later against Illinois State, which advanced after a 5-1 victory over Missouri, the Matadors didn’t rely on a big hit--although Maumausolo’s 15th home run in the second certainly helped.

Seven players contributed hits, and 11 of the 12 players who batted reached base.

“That’s what we are capable of,” Maumausolo said.

Workhorse Blake-Small made it all possible.

After allowing six hits against the Titans, the senior right-hander got the start against Illinois State and pitched two innings without trouble.

Once the Matadors claimed a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Sherman gave Blake-Small a rest in the outfield and called on Jen Richardson.

But Richardson--who faced nine batters and gave up four runs (three earned)--lasted only 1 1/3 innings.

A two-run homer by Casi Cusac in the fourth chased Richardson and Blake-Small came back to finish what she had started.

Her finish was better than her start--and for good reason.

“Yeah, because I was pissed off,” Blake-Small said. “I pitch better when I’m mad.”

She promptly retired the first eight batters, six by strikeout, before allowing a double by Cusac to lead off the seventh.

It was the only hit Blake-Small gave up in the final 3 2/3 innings and she finished with 10 strikeouts, which is more than any pitcher had pinned on Illinois State (46-14) this season.