UCSB (9-22) was swept by Fresno State (23-12) in a non-conference doubleheader at Campus Diamond on Tuesday afternoon. The Gauchos battled back from a 4-0 deficit in game one, but were narrowly defeated 5-4. In the second game of the twin bill, the Bulldogs sailed to a 9-1 run-rule victory.
Fresno State opened the day with two runs at the top of the first inning off of a two-RBI single to left field from Caitlin Stiglich. The Bulldogs built their lead to four in the second with a pair of RBI singles from Andrea Ortega and Michelle Moses.
UCSB finally broke through at the bottom of the fifth inning. Keilani Jennings led off with a base hit and then moved to second on a wild pitch. She scored on the next play when the Bulldog center fielder bobbled the ball while fielding a single by Kelly McDonald. Lainey DePompa followed with a walk and then Brooke Putich kept the ball rolling with a single to left center field that sent McDonald home for the second Gaucho run.
One out later, Allison Taylor hit a two-RBI single to left field that tied the game at 4-4.
Fresno State was able to break the tie at the top of the next inning with a RBI single to center field by Stiglich. The Bulldogs allowed just one more Gaucho on-base the rest of the way to hold on for the 5-4 victory.
MeLinda Matsumoto (4-7) took the loss after allowing the winning run. It was the only run she allowed on seven hits while striking out two. Lindsey Correa started the game and allowed four runs on eight hits She walked three and struck out one.
During the second game, Fresno State once again got out to an early lead when Haley Gilleland, Ortega and Moses led off with consecutive base-hits with the latter driving Gilleland home for the first Bulldog run. The lead extended to 3-0 after Ortega drove home two runs with a two-out triple in the second inning.
UCSB responded at the bottom of the second with McDonald and DePompa hitting back-to-back singles to open the inning. Jackie Sweet followed suit, firing one to left field, driving McDonald home for the lone Gaucho run of the game.
The Bulldogs benefitted from some heavy hitting combined with some heavy winds in the third. Walker drove home the fourth Fresno State run with a single to right field. Then, on the next play, Brooke Phipps hit a three-run homer over the left field fence on the first pitch she saw, pushing the advantage to 7-1. Moses followed suit two plays later, hitting a two-run homer to left field to push the Bulldogs ahead, 9-1.
Fresno State was able to shut UCSB down the rest of the way and with the Bulldogs’ eight-run lead after five innings, the game was called due to the run rule.
Matsumoto (4-8) once again suffered the loss after tossing 2.2 innings. She allowed nine runs – six earned – on nine hits. She allowed two walks while fanning four. Krista Cobb pitched 2.1 innings of relief and allowed just one hit, one walk and struck out two.
