The Matadors (19-7) bounced back from a shaky weekend in Seattle, Wa by picking up a 5-3 win over the Bryant University Bulldogs (5-15) to kick off the California State University- Northridge tournament.

CSUN scored two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the sixth, one of which came on a solo home run off the bat of junior third baseman Maylynn Mitchell, to complete the late inning rally.

The Matadors sent senior pitcher Jordan Sauceda to the hill to square off against the Bulls’ junior pitcher Elle Madsen. Sauceda tossed 3.2 innings on the mound, allowing two runs on one home run.

Sauceda was replaced in the fourth inning by freshman pitcher Zoe Conley, who remained on the hill for the rest of the contest. Conley was awarded the win, giving her a 9-3 record.

Sophomore catcher Katie Hooper padded her season stat sheet even further. The Big West Conference’s leading slugger drove in two runs on two hits and a run of her own.

CSUN’s sophomore center fielder Taylor Glover added two hits of her own, as well as a stolen base to bring her Big West leading stolen base total to 19 Glover has the most steals in CSUN’s Division I history with her 38th stolen base of her career, which surpassed former Matadors Jennifer Mosier and Jaci Carlsen who each had 37.

Shortstop Tara Kliebenstein, the Matador’s lone red shirt freshman, drove home her second RBI of the campaign. The Oceanside, CA native has just 11 plate appearances on the season, but has made an appearance in the last four games for CSUN and Coach Tairia Flowers.

The Bulldogs offense was provided primarily by their starting pitcher. Madsen launched a first inning home run to put her squad up 2-0. The lead was short-lived; however, the Matadors struck back with three runs in the bottom of the third frame.

The Bulldogs tied it up in the fourth inning. Freshman second baseman Liana Ogata slapped a single up the middle, scoring the Bulldog’s last run of the game.

The CSUN tournament will continue throughout the weekend with the next contest taking place on Friday. The Matadors will invite the Buffalo University Bulls (4-11) to the Matador Diamond for their second game of the tournament at 4 pm.

The Bulls are fresh off a 14-13 extra-inning victory over the Evansville University Purple Aces (6-17). The tournament will conclude on Sunday against Colorado State (15-12).