Matadors Short Out Long Beach

Toughened by a hardy nonconference schedule, the Cal State Northridge softball team is taking few prisoners in its quest to win a Big West Conference title.

The Matadors pounded 16 hits, got exceptional pitching in the second game and swept Long Beach State, 4-2 and 5-0, Saturday in a Big West doubleheader at Northridge.

Northridge has won 10 consecutive conference games.

“[Our nonconference schedule] was us getting schooled,” Coach Janet Sherman said. “We had an extremely tough schedule and it’s paying off now.”

Northridge (23-17-1, 13-1), which started 3-8-1, has lost 10 games to teams nationally ranked in the top five.

No. 14 Long Beach State (30-15, 8-3) last week swept No. 15 Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series.

The three-game series with the 49ers concludes today at noon at Northridge.

Settling for six hits and two earned runs off ace Sarah Farnworth in the opener, the 49ers found little redemption in the second game.

Summer Richardson (7-3) threw a one-hitter and recorded her first shutout.

“[Richardson] really threw well,” Sherman said. “Her drop was working well and they kept chasing it.”

Veronica Lopez and Ui Bal hit two-run home runs in the second game.

In the first game, Northridge had eight hits off Kristi Fox (17-6), a Newbury Park High product who was 6-0 against Big West opponents before facing the Matadors.

Northridge took a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

“We don’t have much of a wait-and-see attitude,” said Sherman, who team has outscored opponents, 23-10, in first innings this season.

Farnworth led off the inning by doubling off the left-field fence. Jill Passafiume, who went three for three, singled and Jamie Moore walked to load the bases with one out.

Bal followed with a single to left and Jessica Creith hit a sacrifice to right.

The 49ers closed to within 3-2 in the third when Nicole Spencer homered and Jessica Smith hit a run-scoring single.

Northridge scored in the fourth on Passafiume’s single.