No Homer Barrage, but CSUN Sweeps SDSU Once More

SAN DIEGO — The softball team at San Diego State, which earlier this season fell victim to five home runs at Cal State Northridge in a doubleheader, figured how to keep the ball in its own yard during a Saturday rematch:

Don’t build a fence around the outfield.

Without anything to aim for--at least in left field--the Matadors were slow waking up but eventually arose for another sweep, 4-1 in the first game, which went nine innings, and 3-0 in the second.

“That puts us two games closer to our goal,” Coach Gary Torgeson said.

The Matadors (36-5-1, 11-1 in Western Athletic Conference play) have 10 games remaining. It is Torgeson’s belief that they must win seven to have a shot at playing host to the NCAA regionals, winning the WAC title and maintaining their No. 2 national ranking.

The Aztecs fell to 22-27, 2-12.

A clear hero emerged from each of Saturday’s victories, including Denise Swank, who celebrated her 22nd birthday.

In the first game, Swank led off the top of the ninth with a triple to left-center. It proved to be the catalyst Northridge needed as Vicky Rios followed with a run-scoring single to center to break a 1-1 tie that had stood for five innings.

Kathy Blake went the distance, striking out three and walking two.

Pitcher Amy Windmiller dominated the second game, retiring SDSU’s first 14 batters and giving up only three hits. Beth Calcante broke a scoreless tie with a fifth-inning triple that drove in Kari Hazlett.

As the season winds to a close, the Matadors seem to be winding up.

“It’s exciting,” Windmiller said about CSUN’s outstanding season. “Hopefully, we’ll win (the NCAA championship) if we keep playing like we’ve been playing. We’re good enough.”