The CSUN softball team (20-14) defeated CSU Bakersfield 7-3 and 4-1 Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference doubleheader at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. Katie Chenault picked up a win and a save in the circle over the two games while freshmen Mackenzie Babbitt and Sabrina Garcia had strong days on offense as the Matadors reached the 20-win plateau in non-conference action.

In game one, the Matadors struck for a run in the first off an RBI single from Garcia that scored Babbitt. After CSUB took a 2-1 lead, Garcia picked up another RBI single from Garcia.

With the scored tied at 2-2, senior Ariana Wassmer blasted a solo home run to start the sixth inning. The deep fly was the senior’s fifth of the season, setting a new career high.

Riding that momentum, CSUN added four more runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Daphne Pofek delivered a bases-clearing double to the gap to pus the CSUN lead to 6-2. Haileigh Gonzalez then added an RBI on a fielder’s choice and CSUN led 7-2.

In the circle, Chenault tossed a complete game and allowed three hits to go with four strikeouts. She improved to 4-1 on the season with the win.

Babbitt finished 2-for-3 in the victory with a career-high two stolen bases and three runs scored. Garcia was 2-for-2 with the two RBIs and a run scored. Savannah Horvath added two stolen bases and Gonzalez and Tara Kliebenstein also had a stolen base in the victory.

In game two, the Matadors started strong again as Katie Hooper roped an RBI double to score Horvath in the top of the first inning. The double was Hooper’s eighth of the season, tying for the second-most on the squad.

In the fourth, Taylor Glover added a second run for CSUN as she stole third and then came home on a throwing error from the catcher.

CSUB got one run back in the fourth, CSUN tacked on two more runs in the fifth to give the Matadors a 4-1 edge. Hooper picked up her second RBI of the game while Karlie Habitz, who went 3-for-4, added an RBI single in the frame.

In the circle, CSUN used four pitchers to complete the doubleheader sweep. Taylor Troost started the game and had a quick 2.0 innings of work. Pofek tossed the next two innings and Rebecca Bell (3-2) then tossed the next two innings. Chenault tossed the seventh to earn her first career save.

Troost had two strikeouts while the other three pitchers each had one K. In all, CSUB managed eight hits off CSUN pitching in 14 innings of work Tuesday.

The Matadors return to action this weekend as they open their 2016 Big West Conference season against Long Beach State. The two teams willl play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 and a single game on Sunday, April 3 with both days slated for a 1 p.m. start.