March 29, 2008
STOCKTON, Calif. -
Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
The Cal State Northridge softball team (13-15) opened the Big West season with a sweep of Pacific Saturday afternoon at Bill Simoni Field. Senior Mercedes Lovato won both games for the Matadors while junior Micah Putnam blasted a pair of home runs in game two.
In game one, Northridge picked up a 4-1 victory. In the second game, Northridge hit three solo home runs to take a 4-2 victory.
Senior Mercedes Lovato picked up the win for the Matadors in both games. In game one, the senior tossed a complete game with two strikeouts, while in game two, she tossed 4.1 innings of relief, surrendering only two hits and walking one. Her record moves to 11-9 on the season with a 3.02 ERA, 106 strikeouts and 14 complete games.
In game one, the Matadors loaded the bases in the first after Tracy Allen, Amanda Peek and Jaclyn Rymer all drew free passes from Pacific starter Chelsea Engle. Engle extended the inning on her own accord, throwing two illegal pitches, one of which allowed Allen to reach base after initially striking out.
Northridge then pushed its first run across the board after Micah Putnam was hit by a pitch. The Matadors scored another two runs after an error by Casey Goldsand at second base to bring the score to 3-0 after half an inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, with the score 3-1, Rymer made a spectacular diving catch on a Pacific bunt attempt and doubled off the runner on first.Northridge added to its lead in the fifth when Putnam hit a sac fly with the bases loaded to bring home Jackie Duree and make the score 4-1 in the Matadors' favor.
Lovato worked herself out of a jam in the bottom of the frame, after a pair of Tigers reached into scoring position with one out. Lovato then got the next batter to fly out to right and then got the third out of the inning with a pop-out to third.
The Matadors ended the game with a double play, as Amanda Pitzenberger caught a line-out at third and doubled the runner off first base.
In game two, after the Tigers had scored in the bottom of the first, Putnam blasted her third home run of the season to right center to level the score at 1-1. The three round-trippers tied a season high for Putnam, who now has seven for her career.
In the top of the third, Pitzenberger led off the inning with her first home run of the season, a towering drive to right field to put CSUN ahead, 2-1. Senior Samantha Schroeder started the game for Northridge and threw 2.2 innings of work, before being lifted for Lovato.
In the top of the fourth, Putnam crushed her second home run of the game and career-high fourth of the season, a blast to left field that put the Matadors back ahead, 3-2. CSUN added another run in the top of the sixth, when Pitzenberger came around on a throwing error by the Pacific third baseman.
Game two ended the same way as game one, with Pitzenberger catching a line-out at third and doubling off the Pacific runner at first.
CSUN welcomes the 49ers of Long Beach State to Matador Diamond for its Big West home opener. On Apr. 5, the teams will play a doubleheader scheduled for a noon start time and will play the final game of the series on Apr. 6, a single game also starting at noon.
