April 19, 2008
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -
Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
Christina Saenz blasted a grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs in game one as the Cal State Northridge softball team (17-20, 6-5) split a Big West doubleheader Saturday at Bill Janssen Field. The Matadors rallied to take game one, 8-7, before dropping a 6-2 decision in game two.
In game one, the Matadors found themselves in an early hole, trailing 4-0 after one inning. They got one run back in the top of the second only to watch the Mustangs get one of their own. However, CSUN then staged a two-out rally in the top of the third. Alexandria Alvarado, who was named Big West Player of the Week on April 15, reached on a fielder's choice, and Amanda Peek and Jaclyn Rymer each drew walks to load the bases for Saenz.
On a 0-1 pitch, Saenz drilled a home run to right field, Northridge's first grand slam of the season. The bomb tied the game at five and the Matadors eventually took the lead in the top of the fourth when Jackie Duree had an RBI double, driving home Lauren Olivas.
Cal Poly tied the game at six with a run in the bottom of the sixth, setting up a dramatic seventh inning. Alvarado singled to start the inning and Peek smashed her team-best fifth home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch to give Northridge an 8-6 lead. Cal Poly could only muster one run in the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of a bases-loaded walk and Northridge escaped with the 8-7 victory.
Senior Mercedes Lovato picked up the win for Northridge, moving her season record to 14-12 on the season. She allowed eight hits and walked four batters in her 4.2 innings of work in the game while striking out two.
In game two, CSUN took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Peek and Rymer scored a pair of unearned runs due to a Mustang miscue in the field. Cal Poly got run back in the bottom half of the frame, added another in the third and then proceeded to score two runs in the fourth and fifth inning to bring the game to its final score, 6-2.
Samantha Schroeder picked up the loss for Northridge in the defeat, lasting four innings. She surrendered five hits and allowed three earned runs. Lovato tossed two innings of relief giving up another three runs on six hits.
The Matadors and Mustangs meet Sunday in the rubber match of the three-game series. First pitch between the rivals, the 100th meeting on the softball diamond, will start at noon tomorrow from Bill Janssen Field.
