BAKERSFIELD – Senior second baseman Christine Ramos tied the UC Santa Barbara career hits record on Saturday when she recorded her 208th hit as a Gaucho during the second game of a nonconference doubleheader against Cal State Bakersfield at the Roadrunner Softball Complex. The Gauchos (10-7) split the two games with the Roadrunners (7-7), winning the first by way of a 4-3 score and dropping the second, 7-6, in nine innings.
During the first game, the Gauchos got on the scoreboard at the top of the first inning. Christine Ramos led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third when Jessica Ziegler grounded out to the pitcher. A single by Tiffany Wright during the next at-bat brought Ramos home, putting the Gauchos ahead, 1-0.
At the top of the third, Ziegler walked with one out before Wright hit her second single of the game, putting two runners on. A pitch then hit Jessica Beristianos, loading the bases. A double to right center field by Amanda Ziegler sent all three runners home, stretching the Gaucho advantage to 4-0.
At the bottom of the same inning, Kristen Archuleta reached on a Gaucho error with one out. The next batter struck out swinging before Kelli Bailey doubled to right field sending Archuleta home for the Roadrunners’ first run of the game. A RBI single to center field from Jill McClelland followed by a RBI double from Justeen Maeva, cut the UCSB lead to one run. The Gauchos held on for the 4-3 win.
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Wright led the team going 3-for-4 with a run and one RBI. In the circle, Krista Cobb (6-2) picked up the win after pitching the first four innings; she allowed three earned runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Jenny Liepman tossed two innings and Tami Weston earned the save after closing the game. She walked two and struck out one in the final inning.
Brittany Johnson (2-4) took the loss after tossing a complete game for Bakersfield. She allowed four earned runs on nine hits while walking two.
During the second game of the day, UCSB was once again the first to strike. At the top of the third inning, Brooke Putich led off with a single up the middle then Ramos reached on a fielder’s choice and Putich moved to second on a Roadrunner error during the same play. Both runners advanced when J. Ziegler grounded out. A home run over the right center field fence by Wright gave the Gauchos a 3-0 lead and one out later, A. Ziegler hit a solo homer to left field putting UCSB ahead, 4-0.
Mary Episcopo scored a run on another fielder’s choice from Ramos at the top of the fourth and Putich also scored during the inning, to give UCSB a commanding 6-0 lead.
At the bottom of the same inning, a RBI single from Heather Veitch put the Roadrunners on the board. Then at the bottom of the sixth, the Roadrunners scored two more to trail by three.
With a 6-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Gauchos needed to retire just three batters to hang on for the win. Unfortunately, the Roadrunners got two runners on with one out before a home run from Maeva tied the game at six apiece.
At the bottom of the ninth, Maeva doubled to left center field sending home McClelland – who had been placed on second per the tiebreaker rule – to capture the 7-6 win for Bakersfield.
J. Ziegler went 2-for-5 in the loss with a RBI and Putich went 2-for-4 with two runs for the Gauchos. Ramos’ record-tying hit came at the top of the sixth inning, she is now tied with Tonya Dias (1997-2000) at the top of the UCSB career hits list.
MeLinda Matsumoto pitched 6.1 innings for UCSB and gave up six runs – five earned – on nine hits. She walked one and struck out two. Tami Weston (1-2) took the loss after closing the game. She allowed one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work while striking out two.
Shawna Truan (2-1) grabbed the win for the Roadrunners. She pitched five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while fanning one.
The Gauchos will play the rubber game of this three-game series against the Roadrunners on Sunday, Mar. 1 at noon.
UCSB will open its 2009 home schedule on March 11 when they host San Diego in a doubleheader.
