CS Northridge Boots Away Winning Streak : College softball: Matadors rout Santa Clara for their seventh consecutive win but make critical errors in 9-6 loss to Nevada Las Vegas.

By JANE HUANG

March 10, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

The Cal State Northridge softball team stretched its winning streak to seven with a 12-1 victory over Santa Clara in the three-team Cal State Northridge mini tournament Saturday.

Northridge then raced to a 4-1 lead in its second game, against Nevada Las Vegas, but gave up five unearned runs and lost, 9-6.

“It’s a shame that we found a way to lose,” Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson said. “It was the same problem. We’re making the big errors.”

Errors also hurt Las Vegas, ranked 10th in the country. Three errors in the third inning helped the Matadors to four runs, three unearned. But the Matadors’ three-run lead dissolved in the last three innings.

Two errors in the sixth inning allowed the Rebels to score four runs and take a 7-5 lead. Lani Artis dropped a fly ball by No. 9 hitter Patricia Spencer after racing into shallow center to allow two runs to score. The error tied the score, 5-5. Later in the inning, left fielder Kelly Martin mishandled a hit down the left-field line and two more runs scored.

Northridge’s victory over Santa Clara was called after five innings because of the tournament’s 10-run rule. Northridge pitcher Heather Lindstrom gave up only three hits in a route-going performance.

Freshman Beth Calcante led CSUN’s 15-hit attack with her second home run of the season, a shot over the right-center-field fence. Calcante is the only Northridge player to hit a home run this season.

Shortstop Denise Swank, who went two for three, had two runs batted in. In the fourth inning, Swank drove in Debbie Barnard and Martin with a single to center field to put Northridge ahead, 8-0. CSUN scored three more times in the inning, two coming across on Santa Clara errors and the third on a Michelle Blaha single.

Northridge (15-15) will face Las Vegas and Santa Clara again today, meeting UNLV (17-4) at 11 a.m. and Santa Clara (2-16) at 3 p.m. at Matador Diamond.