Matadors Hold Firm in Sweep

Cal State Northridge took care of the business Saturday by sweeping Pacific, 3-1 and 6-2, in a Big West Conference softball doubleheader in front of 318 at Northridge.

The Matadors (34-17, 19-9 in conference play), who are 15-3 in April, maintained their league lead over Long Beach State (32-13, 13-8) and Pacific (21-19, 13-9).

Northridge, which has only four games left, is in good position to win its first Big West title.

“Every game for us is a challenge,” Coach Janet Sherman said. “But we have to win our four remaining games or [the lead] doesn’t mean a thing.”

In the opener, a Northridge rally in the fourth appeared stymied by an umpire’s ruling.

With runners at first and second and none out, Chelo Lopez hit a pop fly to the pitcher, who misplayed the ball in the wind. As both runners retreated to their original bases, catcher Erica Reynolds threw to third base for a force out and a throw to second completed a double play.

The umpire did not invoke the infield fly rule because he deemed it would have taken an extraordinary effort to catch the ball.

After seven minutes of discussion with the umpires, Elizabeth Sanches singled and Cheri Shinn doubled home two runs. Shinn scored on an error for a 3-1 lead.

Tara Glaister (17-9) pitched a five-hitter and struck out four.

In the second game, Lopez hit a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.