UCSB was unable to match-up with No. 4 UCLA on Wednesday as the Gauchos fell twice to the Bruins during their 2010 home opener at Campus Diamond. UCLA was able to mercy the Gauchos in both games, picking up 14-0 and 11-1 victories, respectively.
The Bruins (5-1) climbed out to an early lead in game one with Megan Langenfeld and Samantha Camuso each hitting RBI singles to give UCLA a 2-0 advantage. In the second, Andrea Harrison hit a two-out double to left field driving two more runs in.
At the bottom of the same inning, senior Priscilla Perez hit a single towards the shortstop with one out, but it proved to be the only Gaucho hit of the game.
UCLA continued its onslaught, pouring on three more runs in the third. At the top of fourth, the Bruins hit two out of the park: a three-RBI homer over the center field fence by Camuso and a solo homer one out later by Julie Burney, stretching the lead to 11-0.
The Bruins capped the game with three more runs in the fifth. A solo home run from Langenfeld, a RBI double from Dani Yudin and an RBI single from Burney brought the final tally to 14-0.
Senior Lindsey Correa (1-1) took the loss for the Gauchos after giving up the first four runs of the game on six hits while walking two.
Donna Kerr (3-0) captured the win after pitching three innings with one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. Destiny Rodino pitched two innings of relief and did not give up a hit while striking out one for the combined shutout.
In the second game of the day, UCSB (4-3) was able to break through its scoring drought. In the bottom of the first, senior Jessica Ziegler hit an infield single to the pitcher and then came home on the next play when junior Jessica Beristianos hit a single to short.
The Gauchos led the game for three innings as senior MeLinda Matsumoto gave up just one hit and one walk during her first run through the Bruin lineup.
UCLA would not stay down for long. Andrea Harrison drew a walk to start off the fourth inning and a Gaucho throwing error allowed Langenfeld to reach first after she laid down a sac bunt, putting two runners on with no outs. GiOnna DiSalvatore followed with an RBI double to the gap in left center field to tie the game at one-all. The Bruins scored two more runs on an RBI single by Burney to left field and a single by Dani Yudin straight up the middle to capture a 3-1 lead.
UCLA was able to keep the Gauchos off the base paths the remainder of the game as they poured on eight more runs, including a three-RBI home run to center field by DiSalvatore that gave the Bruins the final 11-1 count.
Matsumoto (2-1) took the loss for the Gauchos after pitching six innings and allowing 10 earned runs on 10 hits. She walked five and fanned two.
Jessica Ziegler, Beristianos and Keilani Jennings accounted for the Gauchos’ three hits during the game. Jennings was the only Gaucho to draw a walk during the doubleheader; she earned one in each game.
Aleah Macon (1-0) captured her first win for the Bruins after tossing six innings and allowing just one run on three hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.
UCSB will be back in action on Thursday at San Diego State’s Campbell-Cartier Classic. The Gauchos will open the three-day tournament with a game against the host Aztecs at 7 p.m.
The Gauchos will return to Campus Diamond next week for their own four-day tournament, the Gaucho Classic.
