May 9, 2008
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
Game One Box Score in PDF Format
The Cal State Northridge softball team (22-24, 11-9) split a Big West Conference doubleheader Friday with the UC Davis Aggies, dropping game one, 2-0, before rallying to take game two, 8-7. Senior Mercedes Lovato picked up her 18th win of the season in game two and junior Amanda Peek had five hits on the day to raise her season average to .413.
In game, the Matadors threatened several times, but were unable to collect a hit in those situations. Lovato started the game for Northridge, tossing her 18th complete game of the year in the process. UC Davis scored its pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Erin Emde had a two-run single to give the Aggies the margin of victory.
Lovato finished game one allowing only four hits while striking out eight. Jessica Hancock earned the victory for UC Davis, also tossing a complete game, while scattering six hits and fanning five.
Peek picked up two of the Matador hits off Hancock in game one, while sophomore Karla Chaparro also had a pair of hits and stole her third base of the season. Junior Micah Putnam recorded her 10th sacrifice bunt of the season, the third-straight year she has reached double figures in the category.
In game two, Northridge jumped on the board early, scoring a pair of runs in both the first and the second inning. Peek led off the frame with a single, stole second and scored on sophomore Alexandria Alvarado's double. She would later come around to score on an RBI single by senior Jackie Duree. The second inning saw freshman Tracy Allen reach on an error, steal second and then score on Peek's seventh home run of the season, a towering blast to left-center.
The Aggies would respond, taking the lead, 5-4, by scoring four runs in the top of the fourth and chasing CSUN starting pitcher Amanda Pitzenberger. UC Davis would add another pair of runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the inning.
In the fifth, Alvarado laced her second double of the game to left-center to start the inning and moved to third following a single by sophomore Jaclyn Rymer. Duree then battled through an 11-pitch at-bat to deposit a single into right field, scoring Alvarado. Sophomore Lauren Olivas then singled to bring home Rymer and Allen had an RBI groundout that scored Duree to knot the game at 7-7.
After surviving an attempted UC Davis rally in the seventh, CSUN came out firing in the bottom of the inning, as Rymer walked to start the rally. Duree then singled to move her to second. Following a pair of outs that moved Duree to third and pinch-hitter Krystal Raphael to second, Allen had the game-winning single to give the Matadors the 8-7 victory.
Lovato earned the win in the affair, moving her record to 18-14 with a 2.87 ERA and 135 strikeouts. She went the final 2.2 innings of the game, scattering four hits while striking out one. Hancock earned the loss in game two to fall to 17-21 on the season.
The Matadors and Aggies will play one final time, a single game starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Matador Diamond. Before the game, CSUN will honor its three seniors: Lovato, Duree and Samantha Schroeder in a pregame ceremony.
