April 12, 2008
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
The Cal State Northridge softball team (16-18, 5-3 BWC), took both games in a doubleheader Saturday against UC Santa Barbara. The Matadors rallied to take game one, 5-4, before scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure a 3-1 victory in game two.
Sophomore Amanda Pitzenberger figured in the decision for both games Saturday, picking up her first save of the season in game one and earning the victory, her third of the season, in three innings of relief work in game two. For the season, Pitzenberger is 3-5 with a team-best 2.64 ERA in 14 appearances this season.
Senior Mercedes Lovato picked up the win in the first game against the Gauchos, going six strong innings while surrendering three runs and five hits before giving way to Pitzenberger. Overall, Lovato is 13-11 with a 2.97 ERA and 111 strikeouts.
In game one, junior Micah Putnam was 3-for-3 from the plate with a pair of doubles, tying a career high. She scored two runs and drove in a run while recording eight put-outs and three assists in the field. She is now hitting .333 for the season, 109 points higher than her career average.
Putnam started the scoring in game one, leading off the second with a double and moving to third on a fly-out by Tracy Allen. She then came around to score on a wild pitch by UCSB's Lindsey Correa.
After UC Santa Barbara took a 3-1 lead after the top of the third, the Matadors rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Alexandria Alvarado started the rally by getting hit by a pitch and moved up a bag following a walk by Jaclyn Rymer. The pair then executed a double steal to move up one more base and Christina Saenz drove in Alvarado with a single to center. Rymer then scored on another wild pitch and Saenz scored the final run of the inning on an RBI single by Putnam.
Northridge added to its lead in the fifth, after Putnam stroked a double into left field with one out. Allen then singled to move Putnam to third and Kristen Mihm then delivered an RBI pinch-hit to make the score 5-3 in the Matadors' favor.
Game two also saw Northridge overcome an early deficit. The Gauchos pushed a run across in the top of the second off starter Samantha Schroeder. However, the Matadors evened up the ledger with a run in the bottom of the third when junior Amanda Peek scored on a double by Alvarado.
The Matadors scored the winning runs in the bottom of the fifth. Peek walked to start the inning and moved to second following a sac bunt by Jackie Duree. Alvarado then laced her second double of the game to left field to bring home Peek. Rymer then drove Alvarado home with an RBI single to give the game its final score, 3-1.
Alvarado finished the game 2-for-3 tying a season-high with two RBIs. Rymer was also 2-for-3 in game two, raising her season average to .256.
The Matadors and Gauchos resume the series Sunday with a single game at Matador Diamond. First pitch is slated for noon.
