NCAA Division II Softball : Northridge Reaches Final Four With Greatest of Ease

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — While the feet of teammates drew the majority of attention, Debbie Dickmann and Lisa Hall were the ones who stepped forward in helping Cal State Northridge into the NCAA Division II softball Final Four.

Dickmann pitched a one-hitter and Hall contributed four hits, including a two-run triple, to lead Northridge past Sacred Heart, 8-0, in Sunday’s championship game of the North East regional. The Lady Matadors will travel to Sacramento next weekend for the Division II championship tournament.

Northridge (52-11), which pushed across a total of three runs in its first two victories of the tournament, broke open a close game with five runs in the fifth inning.

Northridge Coach Gary Torgeson attributed the offensive outburst to renewed enthusiasm. And he gave Sacred Heart fans and coaches credit for an assist.

“We need intensity and we weren’t able to generate it ourselves,” Torgeson said. “But all the talk around here got us fired up.”

Torgeson was referring to complaints lodged by Sacred Heart about Lisa Erickson and Lisa Martin, the first two batters in the CSUN lineup. Both players set up in the back of the batter’s box, then charge the pitch and slap the ball. Sacred Heart contended they were hitting the ball while out of the batter’s box. And Lady Pioneers Coach Pete DiOrio complained about it--time and time again.

“I loved it,” Erickson said. “They said the same thing yesterday and I laughed. Today I laughed again. I think it got us all going. I know I wasn’t going to let it beat me.”

Certainly Dickmann wasn’t, either. She allowed only one ball to reach the outfield, struck out nine and gave up only an infield single in the fourth inning. Sacred Heart (40-10) never advanced a runner as far as second base.

Dickmann (23-3) started the game by striking out five in a row and she finished just as strong, retiring the side in the seventh on three pitches.