The Cal State Northridge women’s softball team played two double-headers over the weekend, splitting results against St. Johns on Saturday and Saint Mary’s on Sunday.

The Matadors beat St. John’s 4-0 in Saturday’s first game and lost the second 5-0. On Sunday, Northridge lost the first game to Saint Mary’s 3-2, then came back to win the second 8-0.

Mercedes Lovato was a factor in both wins, pitching a shutout against St. Johns and allowing just one hit in the win against Saint Mary’s.

“It was nice to pitch well for my team after last weekend, with us not getting as many wins,” Lovato said.

On Saturday, Northridge scored first, with two runs on three hits in the third inning. Micah Putnam singled, then advanced on Jackie Duree’s single to center field. Duree and Putnam both stole, with Putnam scoring on the throw and Duree advancing to third. Freshman Tracy Allen’s sacrifice fly ball to center scored Duree and put the Matadors ahead 2-0.

CSUN scored two more in the fifth after Duree singled, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Allen stepped up and slammed her third homerun of the season, giving CSUN the 4-0 lead and eventually the game.

“I’ve actually hit more homeruns so far this season than I’ve hit since playing travel ball,” Allen said. “They’ve (the coaches) changed the way that I hit and that’s been helping me.”

Amanda Peek continued to hit well, going 3-for-3 in the game.

“I think I’m just seeing the ball really well,” Peek said. “Just basically trying to keep it simple.”

Allen hit 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Lovatao pitched the entire seven innings and earned the win, giving up just two hits.

For the Red Storm, Kat Lawrence took the loss, throwing 4.1 innings and surrendering eight hits and four runs. Lisa Geer pitched 1.2 innings of relief and gave up two hits.

In the second game it was a reversal of fortune with St. Johns taking the 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.

It looked like the Matadors might rally back in the bottom of the inning when Peek hit a double, but she was left on base along with Raphael, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Again in the fifth, it looked like the Matadors would score after singles by Lauren Olivas and Putnam, along with Allen reaching base on a fielder’s choice, but the Matadors were unable to turn the hits into runs and remained behind 2-0.

Instead, it was St. John’s that scored again, in the sixth, after Kacee Cox doubled to left, followed by a homerun by Brandy Reyes. In the seventh, St. John’s added the final run to win the game 5-0.

Pitzenberger took the loss for CSUN, throwing five innings and giving up five hits and two runs. Lovato came in for two innings of relief, surrendering four hits and three runs.

Peek hit 2-for-3 in the game. Putnam, Duree, Alexandria Alvarado and Olivas each had one hit in the loss.

Linzee Sumrall earned the win for the Red Storm after pitching seven innings, giving up six hits and no runs.

In the first game on Sunday, the Matadors went right to work, getting two runs in the first inning. Duree singled to center and Allen reached base after being hit by a pitch. Peek walked, loading the bases and Rymer singled to right field, scoring Duree. Alvarado reached on a fielder’s choice that put Allen out at home. A wild pitch scored Peek, but Rymer and Duree were left on base.

Saint Mary’s tied the score in the sixth after Sandra Ruezga walked and Jenna Smith homered to left field.

In the seventh, Galloway singled and Clark doubled to left-center, scoring Galloway for the 3-2 lead. The Matadors were unable to score on their last at-bat and lost 3-2.

Rymer was 2-for-4 for the game with one RBI. Putnam, Duree, Peek and Raphael each had one hit in the game. Senior Sam Schroeder started on the mound and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up 4 hits and two runs. Amanda Pitzenberger took the loss, pitching 1.2 in relief and giving up two hits and one run.

Galloway was the winning pitcher for the Gaels, throwing the entire seven innings and surrendering six hits and two runs.

In the second game of the double-header, the Matadors wasted no time getting on the board, scoring five runs in the first inning. With two outs, Allen was hit by a pitch for the second time that day and scored when Peek hit a double to left-center. Rymer singled and Fraggi walked, loading the bases. Alvarado singled to left field, scoring Peek and Rymer. Chaparro hit a single, bringing around Alvarado and Fraggi for a 5-0 score at the end of the inning.

Northridge scored three more runs on three hits in the second inning. Putnam hit a single to right field and scored when Duree doubled down the left field line. Rymer walked and with Duree on third, Fraggi doubled to right center to bring both runners around for an 8-0 lead.

Saint Mary’s only got one hit in the game and the Matadors run-ruled the Gaels, ending the game after the top of the fifth.

Mercedes Lovato scored the win for the Matadors, pitching all five and only allowing one hit. Molly Bergeson took the loss for Saint Mary’s after pitching just one inning and giving up six hits and seven runs. Maryanne Cronin pitched three innings of relief and surrendered two hits and one run.

Rymer went 2-for-2 in the game and Putnam, Duree, Peek, Fraggi, Alvarado and Chapparo each had one hit. Fraggi, Alvarado and Chapparo each had two RBIs, while Duree and Peek had one.

Peek and Lovato both said the key to the wins was everyone contributing at the plate, something that they said head coach Barbara Jordan has emphasized.

“We all need to show up every game and we’ll have a team win,” Lovato said.

The Matadors continue their homestand Friday with a double-header against the University of North Dakota, starting at noon.