Not so unexpectedly, the first round of the CIF playoffs turned into a tough test for the Thousand Oaks High softball team Friday afternoon.

But not nearly as tough as losing would have been.

"The seniors on this team have basically been playing together since we were 8 years old," said senior outfielder Brooke Johnson. "The last thing we wanted to do was end it today. We want to keep playing as long as we can. We're happy to keep going."

Senior power lifted the Lancers.

Johnson ripped a two-out double to score Emily Martino with the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning and pitcher Brittany Reynolds made it stand up by completing a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over Northwood in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division I playoffs at Thousand Oaks High.

Thousand Oaks got a scare, but also a win in improving to 24-5 and avoiding a first-round exit for the second consecutive year. Thousand Oaks moves onto Tuesday's second round against either Rosary or Marina.

Northwood, the third-place entry from the Sea View League, ends its season at 16-11.

The close call didn't surprise Lancers coach Gary Walin.

"That's a team (Northwood) which has some good wins this year," said Walin. "Any time you have a week to prepare for a game, chances are you're looking at a close game. It's usually that way in the first round. We're happy to get over the hump."

Thousand Oaks had six seniors in the lineup and senior Reynolds in the pitching circle. All that experience proved decisive.

Reynolds struck out 11 and allowed five singles, only one of which left the infield. At crucial she times she also made big pitches.

In the first inning, after Northwood loaded the bases with two walks and an infield single, Reynolds squashed the threat by striking out pitcher Rita Kim for the third out.

In the seventh inning, with speedy Ari Morrison representing the tying run at second base, Reynolds struck out No. 2 hitter Megan Hom and No. 3 hitter Kelly Bosshart to secure the victory.

"I love those kind of situations," said Reynolds, who improved to 15-3. "It motivates me to do better. I knew if I kept us in the game, it was only a matter of time before our hitters broke through."

Thousand Oaks managed hardly any offense at all through five innings against Kim.

Tiffany Messerschmidt's two-out bunt single in the third inning was the only base hit. Kim also issued two walks and one hit batter.

Then came the fateful sixth.

Senior Emily Martino led off the inning with a ground single up the middle and reached second on Carisa Mudgett's sacrifice bunt. Kim retired Marla Mathews on a ground ball for the second out, but couldn't put away Johnson.

The senior left fielder whacked Kim's second pitch into left-center, finally breaking the scoreless tie.

"She (Kim) pitched very well," said Johnson. "It seems like we were popping everything up. We needed to hit the ball on the ground and make things happen. I was confident we would start hitting the ball hard."