Slaten Leads a Sweep With Third No-Hitter

The only one unimpressed with Kathy Slaten’s latest no-hitter, it seems, was Slaten herself.

“I wasn’t mentally prepared today,” said Slaten, Cal State Northridge’s senior pitcher. “I was sluggish and could’ve thrown better. I haven’t pitched a good game this season.”

That, at least, was Slaten’s opinion after she pitched her third no-hitter of the season and 21st of her career to start the Lady Matador softball team toward a sweep of Oregon State, 2-0 and 3-0, Thursday at CSUN.

In the second game, Delanee Anderson (11-1) pitched a complete game, scattering three hits. She has pitched 80 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run.

Slaten (9-3-1) was her usual self in Thursday’s first game. The three-time All-American had 10 strikeouts, walked two and never allowed a runner past first base.

“We heard that Slaten had been suffering,” said Oregon State Coach Carol Browning. “But it sure didn’t look that way to me.”

Actually, Slaten is still pitching in pain with chronic carpal tunnel syndrome, a nerve condition that affects her throwing hand.

“I’ve tried different treatments and none of them seem to work,” Slaten said. “I don’t think it’s going to get much better.”

The same cannot be said for the CSUN team, which opens its California Collegiate Athletic Assn. conference schedule Saturday against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Lady Matadors (28-6-1) have come together in all aspects of their game.

“I’m real happy with the way we’re playing right now,” CSUN Coach Gary Torgeson said. “But we can’t sit back and take for granted that we beat Dominguez Hills, 6-0, in our tournament. Now is the time to really get with it.”

Last week, Torgeson chided his team--especially the seniors--for uninspired play.

The message apparently got through to Terri Lamoree and Nancy Lucero.

In the second game Thursday, Lamoree broke a scoreless tie with a fifth-inning pinch-hit double that scored two runs. It was the second time this season that the senior outfielder has come off the bench in a pinch-hit situation and produced a run.

Lucero, a senior second baseman, had two singles in three at-bats.

“When I was telling the team they weren’t producing, the seniors must have said to themselves, ‘We know who he’s talking about,’ ” Torgeson said. “I’m glad, too. We really need their bats.”

Senior outfielder Barbara Jordan, the most valuable player in the CCAA last season, had two hits in each of the games against Oregon State (6-16).

First Game OREGON STATE--Williamson and Mason, Stoneberg (6).

CS NORTHRIDGE--Slaten and Gray.

WP--Slaten (9-3-1); LP--Willamson.

Second Game OREGON STATE--Schoonover and Stoneberg.

CS NORTHRIDGE--Anderson and Goodell.

WP--Anderson (11-1); LP--Schoonover.