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Georgia Tech Softball: Previewing the Matador Classic

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A Close up of tattered baseballs and softballs the players use to practice with on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Tech softball team has traveled west to sunny California to take part in the Matador Classic.

The Georgia Tech softball team has the opportunity to take a nice trip out to the West Coast for a weekend series in California. The Jackets are taking part in this year’s Matador Classic hosted by California State University, Northridge just outside of Los Angeles.

The Jackets enter the five-game classic with a 16-9 and one of only two teams to have a winning record. Emily Anderson will look to continue her dominating pitching this weekend as she’ll see the mound a few times, bringing her 1.29 ERA and 12-4 record to the classic. Also expect the Jackets lineup to take advantage of several weak pitching staffs.

Overall, the Jackets should be able to take care of business rather easy this weekend and should come away with a 4-1 record at the least though anything less than 5-0 would be disappointing.

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All schedule times are pacific coast time 

 Pacific (10-16) – Friday 11:45 am:

The Tigers enter this weekend’s Matador Classic as losers of seven of their last nine, only picking up wins over North Texas and Farleigh Dickinson in the process. The Tigers offensively can be a dangerous team and have a few power threats as they’ve totaled 18 home runs on the season. Senior Syndey Lahners has been great at the plate this season hitting .380 with eight home runs and 24 RBI. In total, the Tigers have five regulars hitting over .300 this season.

The Tigers have struggled on the mound this season and own an ERA of 4.33 entering the weekend. Their pitching staff has only allowed eight home runs this season but has struggled controlling their pitches, walking 96 in 169.2 innings pitched.

CSUN (12-22) – Friday 2:00 pm:

The CSUN Matadors, the gracious hosts of the weekend classic enter the weekend 10 games below .500 and have lost each of their last two games. The Matadors have struggled for most of the season but have faced a rather tough schedule in the process. Entering the weekend, the Matadors are just 2-8 on the home, which isn’t great news when you’re the hosting team.

Offensively, CSUN isn’t great but they’re not horrible either, collecting a team .261 batting average on the season. What they do have is a great deal of power as they have 30 home runs this season in 34 games. Senior Savannah Horvath is a player to watch as she’s hitting .378 on the season with 10 home runs.

The Matadors pitching staff hasn’t been great this season, allowing 4.38 runs per game. They also surrendered over a home run per game this season, allowing 35 in 34 games. Opponents are hitting .284 off the Matadors pitching staff this season.

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Cal Poly (14-12) – Saturday 12:30 pm

The only other team to  have a winning record in the Matador Classic besides the Yellow Jackets is the Cal Poly Mustangs who enter the weekend’s series two games above .500. The Mustangs however have lost each of their last three games after being winners of seven straight.

They won’t kill you with their power, only hitting five home runs as a team on the season but are able to get on base with six players hitting above .300 on the season. Their pitchers have struggled this season, owning an ERA of 4.48 entering Friday.

The Mustangs are a team that could give the Jackets a hard time offensively but the Jackets lineup should be able to take advantage of a weak pitching staff.

 Santa Clara (4-21) – Saturday 2:45 pm & Sunday 10:00 am:

The worst team in the Matador Classic by far, the Santa Clara Broncos have been a complete disaster in 2018. So far on the season, the Broncos are hitting a mere .191 on the season and have hit as a team just one home run. They picked up their most recent win against Farleigh Dickson last Saturday but have lost three straight since then.

Offensively, Santa Clara only has two hitters hitting above .240, and are lead by sophomore outfielder Taylor Burns who is hitting .270 on the season and has the teams lone home run on the season. As a team, the Broncos own an ERA of 5.75 and have surrendered 18 home runs on the season.

The Jackets will take on the Broncos twice this weekend and should take both games rather easily, or they should hope.