Northridge Has Seen the Worst of It

A quick perusal of the Cal State Northridge softball schedule explains a lot about the Matadors’ roller-coaster ride through the first half of the season.

Northridge (17-11-1), ranked No. 22, has played more than half its games against teams ranked at one time or another in the Top 25 poll.

The Matadors, 12-2 against unranked opponents, are 5-9-1 in games against ranked teams. Three of those losses came against top-ranked Arizona.

Perhaps the tough schedule will pay off for the Matadors in the second half of the season. Twelve of Northridge’s remaining 13 doubleheaders are Big West Conference matchups and No. 13 Long Beach State is the only ranked conference opponent.

Northridge couldn’t be playing better ball at a more opportune time.

The Matadors, who tied for third in the Cal State Fullerton tournament last week, outhit their past five opponents, 47-32.

The Matadors, who upset No. 3 Washington on Saturday, had nine hits and scored more runs against Arizona than any other opponent this season in the Wilcats’ 14-8 victory Sunday.

“Now we’ve got to turn this over and let it springboard us in conference,” Coach Janet Sherman said.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

We’re No. 55: Cal State Northridge broke into the national rankings for the first time at No. 55 last week with a 10-0 record.

But the Matadors, playing without No. 4 singles player Kendra Segura, a freshman from Dorsey High, lost matches to Illinois-Chicago, Southwest Missouri and Princeton and defeated only Rutgers last week.

Northridge has been led by No. 2 player Isabella Peintner, a sophomore transfer from Augusta State who is 23-4.

BASEBALL

On the offensive: Cal Lutheran pitchers certainly can’t say they get no support from the offense.

The Kingsmen (15-5) are batting .378 and eight players are batting over .400. Joseph Jauregui (.500), Donny Churchman (.478) and Anthony Olden (.425) each have at least 30 hits and Cal Lutheran has 278, an average of nearly 13 a game.

The Kingsmen can run too, stealing 67 bases to the opposition’s 12. Opposing pitchers have an earned-run average of 10.08 against Cal Lutheran.