CSUN Softball Celebrates Senior Day with 6-3 Victory Over UC San Diego
Photo Credits: Ricky Gonzales
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — If Hollywood wrote softball scripts, this one would’ve rolled straight off a soundstage at Matador Diamond. The CSUN Matadors, celebrating their seniors and trying to salvage pride after two tough losses to UC San Diego, didn’t just win, they turned a shaky start into a victory that screamed resilience and swagger. On a cool Saturday afternoon, the Matadors stormed back from a 3–0 deficit to take down the Tritons 6–3 in their final home game of the season.
It wasn’t just a win. It was a mic drop.
Early Drama: Womack Wakes Up the Tritons
Through one inning, both teams probed for weaknesses without much success. Then, in the second inning, UC San Diego drew blood. With two runners on, Samantha Womack — who’s been the Tritons’ power plug all year — unloaded a three-run bomb over the left-field fence. It was the kind of “don’t blink” moment that makes pitchers wince and fans gasp. UCSD went up 3–0, flashing the same offensive muscle that propelled them to a series sweep the day before.
CSUN looked rattled. The dugout went quiet. For a split second, it felt like déjà vu from Friday’s dominance by the Tritons. But then something shifted.
The Comeback Begins: Jackson and Okano Spark the Fire
The third inning was vintage “don’t count us out” CSUN softball. Savannah Simons ripped a double into the gap, Vanessa Perez followed with another shot that cut UCSD’s lead to 3–1, and the energy snapped back into the Matador dugout. With the crowd back on its feet, Raegan Jackson, the team’s heartbeat and senior anchor, singled up the middle to bring in Perez.
Moments later, Madison Okano — another senior writing her own farewell script — laced a single to center field, driving in Jackson to tie it up at 3–3. That swing didn’t just even the game; it flipped the emotion entirely. The Matadors, once staring down a long afternoon, now looked like they had the Tritons’ number.
Suddenly, UC San Diego was the one playing catch-up.
The Turning Point: Rivas and Okano Seal the Lead
By the fifth inning, both teams were tense — trading defensive stops, testing patience. Then came the breakthrough. Okano struck again, ripping a single and putting her speed to work. Amber Rivas, showing veteran poise, smacked a double off the left-center wall that scored Okano from first. The go-ahead run wasn’t just a number; it was a momentum bomb. The Matadors led 4–3, and the stadium shook.
As if following a script for the seniors, CSUN refused to settle there.
The Knockout: CSUN’s Sixth-Inning Slugfest
In the sixth, the Matadors did what great teams do: they piled on. Simons, Perseus Yanez, and Perez went back-to-back-to-back with singles, loading the bases and forcing the Tritons into defensive chaos. Jackson, showing why she’s one of the most clutch hitters in the Big West, delivered a sacrifice fly that sent Simons home.
Then, right on cue, Okano capped off her monster day with yet another RBI single, stretching the lead to 6–3. At that point, UC San Diego looked out of answers. Their dugout was quiet again — this time for good.
Senior Supremacy: Malia Williams Owns the Spotlight
Every sport has that moment when a senior steps up and writes their final home memory in permanent ink. For Malia Williams, that was Saturday. After surrendering the early home run to Womack, Williams locked in like a stonewall. CSUN’s senior ace pitched a complete game, giving up just five hits and zero runs after the second inning. She struck out two, walked none, and induced weak contact all game long. The definition of poise under pressure. “I just wanted to finish strong for my teammates,” Williams said after the game. “We’ve worked so hard for this, and it felt good to fight back after a tough start.”And fight she did — outdueling UCSD’s shaker duo of Callie Howard and Bella Settembro, who had dominated the previous day. Williams earned her sixth win of the year, but this one meant more than stats. It was a performance soaked in legacy, not numbers.
