UCSB rallied from a 6-3 deficit to post a 7-6 win in the first game of a softball doubleheader and freshman pitcher Krista Cobb tossed a three-hit shutout in a 6-0 second game win as the Gauchos swept visiting Cal State Northridge on Saturday afternoon at Campus Diamond.
UCSB (21-17 overall, 4-4 in the Big West) trailed Northridge (23-14 overall, 3-5 in the Big West) 6-3 entering the sixth inning of the first game, but scored three in the sixth and one in the seventh to secure the win.
In the sixth, left fielder Jackie Conlin started things with a double to left center. Second baseman Christine Ramos, who had three hits in the game, doubled down the line in right, scoring Conlin. First baseman Jessica Ziegler collected her second hit of the game, lining a single to left, moving Ramos to third. Ziegler then stole second setting the table for center fielder Tiffany Wright who singled both runners home, tying the score at 6-6.
Cobb, who relieved MeLinda Matsumoto in the fourth inning, retired the Matadors in the top of the seventh, giving the Gauchos a chance to win it in the bottom half.
UCSB didn’t waste the opportunity.
Designated player Katie McWhirter was hit by a pitch to start things. After catcher Lainey DePompa popped up an attempted sacrifice, Brooke Putich entered the game as a pinch runner for McWhirter. Conlin was then hit by an Amanda Pitzenberger pitch, giving the Gauchos runners on first and second with one gone. Ramos walked to load the bases. Jessica Ziegler hit into a fielders choice, forcing Putich at the plate while moving Conlin to third and Ramos to second. With Wright at the plate, Conlin raced home scoring the winning run on a wild pitch by Pitzenberger.
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Cobb pitched 3.2 innings of shutout ball, striking out five and improving to 13-5 on the year.
The first-year pitcher from West Hills, Calif., didn’t take long to improve to 14-5 as she blanked Northridge on three hits in game two of the twinbill. Cobb struck out a pair and did not walk a batter. In fact, no Matador base runner got past second base.
Offensively, the Gauchos pounded out 12 hits in game two. They carried a narrow 1-0 lead into the sixth inning, but scored two in the fifth and three in the sixth to ice the win.
The two runs in the fifth came on Wright’s fourth home run of the season. For Wright, it was her first circuit clout at home in 2009 and it moved her into the Big West’s top-10 all-time for carer home runs with 27. She finished with three RBI for the game. It was UCSB’s first home run at Campus Diamond this season.
In the sixth, the key blow was a two-run double to right by shortstop Jessica Beristianos. The blast by Beristianos plated Wright and Jessica Ziegler.
Jessica Ziegler, Amanda Ziegler, Ramos and Beristianos each had two hits in the second game.
UCSB and Cal State Northridge will play the third game of the three-game series on Wednesday, April 15 at Campus Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
