Cal State Northridge @ LMU

[oldNlazy]

You can't say Northridge are not quick learners. Sam Fischer hit a HR her 1st time up and they walked her the next 7 times. They won't all be officially called intentional but giving her anything to hit was never in question. It turned out to be a good strategy as LMU was completely shut down in the 2nd game needing ITB to scratch out a victory. I doubt there was a more exciting game played nationally today.
Northridge 0 0 0 0 0=0-1-1
LMU 4 0 0 5 x=9-10-2
Tait vs Waldusky
Game 1 was all about Dana Waldusky as she held the Matadors to 1 hit. Fischer's 2-run HR in the 1st inning was followed by an E-9, a single to RF by Pereda and a rare IF hit by Dutton which scored 2. Neither side did much until the 4th when Northridge had a chance to get back in the game. Thielges singled with 1 out followed by back-to-back errors. With the bases loaded and 1 out the right fielder made a nice catch and turned it into a double play. The Lions came out roaring in the 4th. Nelson beat out a bunt, Shuster singled and Fischer walked to load the bases with 1 out. Sarginson singled in a run and with 2 outs Segura cleared the bases with a double to center and Alvarez brought her home with a single to LF. The big inning set them up for a run rule victory and that was cemented when CSUN went out in order in the 5rh.

CSUN 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0=1-6-3
LMU 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1=2-10-0
Pagano vs Goldstein
The only thing this game lacked was scoring. The Northridge SS made a couple of absolutely amazing plays and the pitchers all pitched their way out of tight situations. Once it went to ITB the tension got more and more ratcheted up. This was truly a game that neither team deserved to lose. Th Lions again threatened to score early putting 2 runners on base but a great diving grab by the SS turned what looked like a clean hit by Sarginson into a force out. In the 2nd Sale hit a ball that barely cleared the LF fence and the Matadors had the lead. In the LMU 3rd Shuster singled, Fischer alked and Sarginson singled to load the bases but Pagano induced Peredes to ground out to end the inning. The Lions would not be denied in the 4th with help from the CSUN defense. Alvarez singled to CF, the pitcher booted a simple grounder and Harman singled up the middle to load the bases. An E-3 plated the only run LMU would get for a long while.
Fischer led off the 5th but they weren't about to let her beat them so another BB. It almost cost them as Peredes blooped a single to left but Pagano got consecutive ground balls to escape. The Matadors had a chance to retake the lead in the 6th. Linn beat out an IF hit, Thielges singled to left and went to 2nd on the throw. They walked Sale intentionally to load the bases with Ball 4 almost a passed ball. LMU loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on singles by Ahlo and Shuster and a walk to Fischer but Pagano got a ground ball to end the inning. After Lopez's 1 out single in the 7th Waldusky came in to pitch. She walked the 1st batter but then got the next 2. LMU had one last chance to win it in regulation. Singled down the RF line and with 2 outs Ahlo reached on an error. Harren was hit by a pitch but Nelson grounded out.
The key to the ITB is to bunt the runner over but neither side was able to do so in the 8th. Northridge made a nice defensive play to cut down the runner at 3rd which relieved a lot of pressure. In the 9th CSUN popped up their bunt attempt. They were successful in a 1-out sacrifice but the next batter struck out. LMU didn't even try to bunt and so never got the runner off second. A big play in the 10th as Pagano's bunt not only resulted in an out at 3rd but she got caught off 1st for the 2nd out. You kept hoping for the moment when Fischer would come up with the bases loaded and they would have to pitch to her but that was not to be. With 1 out Shuster hit a hard ground ball that went 1st off the 3rd baseman's glove and then off the shortstop's and on into LF for the walkoff hit.