Victory Gives Northridge Big West Softball Title

Elizabeth Sanches hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning Thursday and Cal State Northridge defeated UC Santa Barbara, 4-2, to clinch the Big West Conference softball championship.

The second game of the scheduled season-ending doubleheader was not played because it had no bearing on the conference standings.

Second baseman Augrista Belford also homered for the Matadors (37-17, 22-9 in conference play), who earned an automatic berth into next week’s NCAA regionals.

Sanches, the designated hitter, and Belford each had two hits for the Matadors, who fell behind 2-0 in the first inning.

Tara Glaister (19-9) struck out eight, walked two and allowed eight hits for Northridge.

Chelo Lopez and Granada Hills High graduate Jessica Creith each had doubles for the Matadors, who scored single runs in the second and sixth innings.

Santa Barbara finished the season at 25-25, 9-20.