Matadors Open and Shut Down the Gauchos

With eight starters returning from a team that was one game away from a third consecutive appearance in the Women’s College World Series last season, the Cal State Northridge softball team looked like the veterans they are in a season opener Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara.

Northridge, ranked No. 8 in the nation, pounded 24 hits in 12 innings and played error-free defense to sweep Santa Barbara, 5-0 and 9-1, in a nonconference doubleheader.

The second game was halted after five innings because of an eight-run rule.

Leading the onslaught was the meat of the lineup, senior Scia Maumausolo and her protege, sophomore Chelo Lopez, who combined for 11 hits and seven runs batted in.

“That’s a phenomenal first day,” Coach Janet Sherman said.

Most impressive however, was Lopez, a first baseman who bats cleanup behind Maumausolo.

Lopez went six for seven, including hits in her first five trips to the plate.

“[The pitches] looked pretty big today, like a big watermelon,” Lopez said, smiling.

Santa Barbara pitcher Stacy Atwood (0-1), a graduate of Crescenta Valley High, allowed 10 hits in the opener, six to Maumausolo and Lopez.

Maumausolo hit a three-run home run in her first at-bat. Northridge increased the lead to 5-0 in the fifth when Jamie Herrington scored on a single by Lopez.

Jen Richardson pitched a two-hitter in the opener, striking out 10.

Freshman right-hander Tara Glaister, a 5-foot-9 recruit from Claremont High, made her college debut in the second game and allowed four hits and two walks in five innings.

The Matadors scored seven runs in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead.