After seeing its final Big West series of the season moved from Campus Diamond to Cal Poly’s Bob Janssen Field due to the Jesusita Fire, the UCSB softball team (26-24, 9-11) faced two narrow losses to Cal State Fullerton (28-19, 16-9) on Friday evening. The Titans won game one 4-2 before using nine innings to take game two via a 2-1 score.
Cal State Fullerton gained the lead early in game two when Torrie Anderson led off with a double to right field at the top of the first inning. After a sacrifice bunt from K.C. Craddick moved Anderson to third, a sac fly from Lauren Lupinetti sent home the first run.
At the bottom of the fourth, Jessica Beristianos led off for the Gauchos and got beamed by a pitch. Amanda Ziegler then singled to the right side and both runners advanced another base on the throw. The Titans earned their first out of the inning when Katie McWhirter hit into a fielder’s choice and Beristianos was thrown out at home. Kelsey Anderson then walked, loading the bases, before a pitch hit Priscilla Perez, sending Ziegler home and tying the game, 1-1.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
At the end of seven innings, the game was still tied forcing the game into extra innings. At the top of the ninth, Kadie Baldwin led off with a single up the middle and was bunted over to second by Courtney Martinez. A Gaucho throwing error on the next play at second base allowed Baldwin to score an unearned run, the eventual game-winner.
The Gauchos loaded the bases at the bottom of the ninth but the Titans got out of the inning unscathed, holding on for the 2-1 win.
Jessica Ziegler and Christine Ramos each went 2-for-5 at the plate and Amanda Zieglerwent 2-for-4 with a run.
In the circle, Lindsey Correa (3-1) took the loss after tossing all nine innings and allowing just two runs – only one earned – on 11 hits. She walked two and struck out one.
For the Titans, Krystal Heinle (10-7) picked up the win after pitching eight innings and allowing one earned run on six hits. She walked two and struck out five.
In the first game of the afternoon, the Gauchos struck first at the bottom of the first. Jessica Ziegler walked with one out and then stole second one out later. A RBI single to center field from Beristianos sent the first run of the game home.
Fullerton remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when Whitney Kroh walked with two outs and then stole second. The runner advanced to third on a wild pitch before Torrie Anderson hit a home run to left field giving the Titans a 2-1 lead.
Francesca Gonzales led off with a double down the left field line at the top of the sixth for Fullerton. Trina Harrison followed with an RBI double to left field, stretching the lead to 3-1. The runner then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kadie Baldwin before Ari Cervantes singled through the right side one out later to put the Titans ahead, 4-1.
With one out at the bottom of the seventh, Ramos laid down a bunt single and then moved to second when Jessica Ziegler grounded out to third base. During the next at-bat, Tiffany Wright reached first on an error by the Fullerton shortstop and Ramos came home on the play, cutting the deficit to two runs. Unfortunately, that would be the last Gaucho run of the game as the next batter grounded out to second base, ending the game.
Ramos and Ziegler led the team, each going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Lainey DePompa also went 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the circle, Krista Cobb (18-9) took the loss after tossing five innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits. She walked three and struck out four. Jenny Liepman pitched 2.0 hitless innings of relief and struck out two.
Cervantes (18-10) grabbed the win for the Titans tossing a complete game, allowing two runs ¬- one earned – on nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
The Gauchos will conclude their series with Fullerton on Saturday at 12 p.m. at Cal Poly’s Bob Janssen Field.
