Zach Samuels struck out 10 batters in the final five innings of a postponed game on Monday but it was not enough as the UCSB baseball team couldn’t overcome a deficit that began in their April 7 game, losing to Pepperdine 8-6.
The UCSB-Pepperdine baseball game was suspended due to rain on Tuesday with the Waves leading the Gauchos, 8-5 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning and resumed on Monday.
Samuels finished the game for the Gauchos, striking out a career-best 10 batters in five innings, but UCSB could only score one run against the Waves’ three pitchers.
Cole Cook opened the fifth inning for Pepperdine and blanked the Gauchos for three innings, walking only one batter while striking out four.
UCSB got its lone run Monday in the seventh inning when Steve Cook, who homered in the earlier part of the game on April 7, walked against new pitcher Scott Alexander. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Cook scored on Eric Oliver’s single, giving the Gaucho first baseman a team-high 39 RBI this season.
In the ninth inning, facing Pepperdine closer Nick Gaudi, pinch-hitter John DeAlbasingled, but Gaudi struck out Brian Gump and Oliver to end the game.
UCSB has now lost seven games in a row, their worst such stretch since losing seven in a row from April 19-April 30, 2005.
The following information is from the first part of the game played on April 7:
As the rain and wind started picking up in the bottom of the third inning, the Gauchos took advantage vs. Pepperdine pitcher Aaron Gates. Second baseman Steve Cook led off the inning with a solo homer to left-center, tying the game, 1-1.
After an out, Brian Gump reached on a two-base error when his pop fly bounced off the glove of shortstop Denny Duron. After an out, Matt Valaika walked and Ryan Cavan was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Catcher Marty Mullins then blasted a grand slam to give the Gauchos a 5-1 lead.
UCSB starter Greg Davis had pitched well to that point, allowing just a run on four hits, but he walked two batters and then hit another, loading the bases with one out.
At one point, the umpires halted the game as some of the Gaucho players brought sand and quick dry materials to the pitching mound and home plate area as the rain started coming down harder.
After Nate Simon’s single scored two runs, Davis was replaced by Patrick McIntyre. Colin Rooney greeted him with a three-run homer and three batters later Nate Johnson blasted a two-run shot to give Pepperdine its 8-5 lead.
That was when the game was called.
Beginning Friday, May 8, the Gauchos will host Long Beach State for a three-game weekend series
