SAN DIEGO – The UCSB softball team (8-17) opened its spring break schedule by splitting a doubleheader at the University of San Diego (10-17) on Tuesday afternoon. After dropping the first game, 6-1, the Gauchos won game two, 6-1.
In the second game of the twin bill, the Gauchos posted a season-best 14 hits, including three doubles, another season best.
UCSB got on the scoreboard at the top of the first inning after Jessica Beristianos hit an RBI single to right field sending Brooke Putich home. The Toreros tied the game at the bottom of the same inning when Taylor Hensley hit a double to right center field that allowed Kristen Gensler to score. The run, however, would be the only of the game for USD.
The Gauchos regained the lead in the second inning when, with two runners on and two outs, Brooke Putich hit a double to left center field sending Jamie Adishian across home plate. UCSB then added two more in the third. Jessica Beristianos led-off with a double to right field and Keilani Jennings followed with a base hit to right field. A wild pitch allowed Jennings to move to second and one out later, another wild pitch sent Beristianos home. Allison Taylor’s double to center field during the ensuing at-bat sent Jennings home and gave the Gauchos a 4-1 advantage.
UCSB’s offense continued to roll in the fourth inning. Putich earned a walk to open the inning and one out later, Beristianos connected with her third hit of the game, a single to center field, and each runner advanced on the throw. Jennings hit a fly ball to right field during the next play allowing Putich to score. Tiffany Corder followed with a bunt single that drove Beristianos home and brought the Gauchos’ run count to six.
Beristianos led the team going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Meanwhile, Brooke Putich went 2-for-3 with two runs, a double, a stolen base and an RBI. Each Gaucho starter recorded a hit in the victory.
In the circle, MeLinda Matsumoto (4-5) captured the win after tossing the complete game. She allowed just one unearned run on five hits and did not give up an extra-base hit. She walked one and struck out one in the victory.
During the first game of the day, the Toreros got out to a 6-0 lead in the first two innings and held on for the win. Gensler earned a walk at the top of the order in the first inning and was moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Danielle Duhart. A double to center field sent Gensler home for the first run of the day. Gaucho pitcher Lindsey Correa continued to struggle and hit the next two batters, loading the bases. A sac fly to center field by Carey Casciola sent home the second USD run and a third hit batter allowed the third run to cross home plate. Matsumoto was brought in to relieve Correa, but while facing her first batter, a pitch was ruled illegal, sending a fourth runner home.
With two runners on and two outs at the bottom of the second, Jennifer Ellenbeck hit a two-RBI single to bring the USD lead to 6-0.
The Gauchos scored their lone run of the game in the sixth inning. With two outs, Beristianos sent Ziegler home from second base with a single up the middle.
Correa (2-6) took the loss after her rough first inning in the circle for UCSB. Matsumoto finished the game with just two earned runs allowed on two hits. She walked two and struck out four. At the plate, Ziegler led the way going 2-for-4 with the lone run and a stolen base.
UCSB will be back in action on Friday when it heads to the Stanford Invitational. The Gauchos will play Cal State Bakersfield, BYU, Santa Clara and host Stanford during the two-day tourney.
