Ward Drives in Six as Dartmouth Withstands CSUN’s Comeback Attempt

Tuesday, March 19

Northridge, Calif.

2:30 PM ET

Dartmouth College

3-13

CSUN

13-15

Dartmouth

CSUN

Ward Drives in Six as Dartmouth Withstands CSUN’s Comeback Attempt

3/19/2019 6:04:00 PM | Softball

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The Big Green led 10-0 in the fourth and held off CSUN

By: Mike Miezejeski

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – It was a tale of two halves at the Matador Diamond Tuesday afternoon as Dartmouth snapped its 12-game losing streak, defeating CSUN, 10-9. The Big Green (3-13) took a 10-0 lead after three and half innings, the Matadors (13-15) then flipped the script and scored nine runs in the final three and a half and stranded the tying run on third in the bottom of the seventh.

Taylor Ward had a career day at the plate, going 3-4 with two doubles and six runs batted in. Billie McFadyen had a perfect day going 3-3 with two runs scored, while Micah Schroder and Tatyanah Castillo both went 3-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. The Big Green finished the day with 15 hits. Madie Augusto secured her second win in the circle and Heather Turner earned her first save of the year.

Dartmouth made its presence felt right away with a five run first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Schroder singled in Calista Almer, keeping the bags full. Schae Nelson then scored on a wild pitch that moved runners to second and third. Castillo made it 3-0 with a base hit and Ward brought in another run with a single. The fifth run of the inning crossed the plate when Castillo was brought in on an RBI groundout by Tessa Grossman.

The third and fourth innings belonged to Ward. The senior captain drove in two runs in the third on a base knock up the middle to score Schroder and Castillo, making it a 7-0 advantage. Ward did it again in the top of the fourth with a three RBI double to right center, driving home Castillo, Schroder and McFadyen to extend the Dartmouth lead to 10-0 heading into the home half of the fourth.

CSUN began to chip away at the Big Green lead beginning in the fourth inning. Megan Stevens got it started with a solo home run. The gap was closed in the fifth when Jayme Steward sent a two-run shot over the fence and CSUN continued to score with a double and a steal of home plate. The sixth run for Matadors came on a Dartmouth error to cut the deficit to 10-6.

Megan Stevens launched a three-run homer with two outs in the sixth to make it a one-run game. It was Stevens' second of the game. The Big Green stayed ahead by one heading into the seventh.

CSUN put runners on the corners with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Turner then got Alyssa Vazquez to hit a line drive to Almer who fired to first base for a double play, keeping the tying run on third. Turner then worked a weak groundout to herself for the final out and the Big Green survived the Matadors.

Dartmouth plays its final game in California Wednesday night at Cal State Fullerton. First pitch is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.