May 3, 2008
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -
Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
The Cal State Northridge softball team (20-23, 9-8 BWC) rallied in the seventh inning twice for a pair of victories over UC Riverside Saturday afternoon at Amy S. Harrison Field. Northridge scored the game's only run on a bases-loaded walk in game one and rallied for four runs in the seventh in game two to secure the 4-3 victory.
Game one quickly developed into a pitching duel, pitting senior Mercedes Lovato against the Highlanders' Christin Songer. Both pitchers stifled the opposing offenses, as the Matadors and Highlanders collected four and three hits respectively.
After UC Riverside stranded a lead-off double in the bottom of the sixth, the Matadors came to the plate in the seventh still looking for the game's first run. With one out, sophomore Karla Chaparro collected a single down the right field line and then moved to second after fellow sophomore Amanda Pitzenberger reached on a UC Riverside error.
Songer then loaded the bases with two outs after she hit sophomore Christina Saenz, who was pinch-hitting. With the bases full, junior Amanda Peek drew a walk on five pitches to bring Chaparro to the plate to score the game's only run.
Lovato then retired the UC Riverside in the seventh in order to nail down the 1-0 victory. For the game, Lovato tossed her 17th complete game of the season, striking out four and walking three. For the season, she is 16-13 with a team-best 3.04 ERA and 125 strikeouts.
In game two, the Highlanders came out firing, getting their first two batters on base successfully. However, Pitzenberger, making her ninth start of the season, allowed only one run in the frame, courtesy of a sac fly.
UC Riverside increased its lead to 3-0 in the sixth following a two-run, pinch-hit single off senior Samantha Schroeder, who came into relieve Pitzenberger during the frame. That set the stage for a wild seventh inning, one in which Northridge registered its first win of the season when trailing after six innings.
Sophomore Jaclyn Rymer led off the inning for Northridge and moved to second after a single by sophomore Alexandria Alvarado. Freshman Kristen Mihm then collected a single and all three advanced an extra base on the play following an error by the UC Riverside shortstop, with Rymer scoring on the play.
Senior Jackie Duree then reached on a fielder's choice and Alvarado scored on the play after an error by the UC Riverside third baseman. That put Mihm at third and Duree at second with none out and Mihm representing the tying run. The next two Matador hitters failed to produce a run, with Mihm getting tagged out at the plate on a fielder's choice by sophomore Lauren Olivas.
Junior Amanda Peek was then issued an intentional to load the bases with two outs for freshman Tracy Allen, who battled against UC Riverside starter Marissa Alvidrez for a few pitches. Then, Alvidrez tossed wild pitch that brought Duree home to tie the game and amid the chaos, Olivas snuck in under the catcher's tag to give Northridge a 4-3 lead. The UC Riverside head coach, Connie Miner, was then tossed from the game by the home plate umpire for arguing the call.
In the seventh, Lovato came in to relieve Schroeder and intentionally walked Alvidrez, the tying run, to start the inning. She moved to second on a sac bunt and sat at third with two outs. However, Lovato got the last Highlander to strike out looking to end the game.
In the end, Schroeder picked up her first win of the season, moving to 1-4, and Lovato earned her second save of the season.
UC Riverside and CSUN will play a final game on Sunday, a noon matinee at Amy S. Harrison Field.
