Bob Brontsema became UCSB’s all-time leader in victories on Sunday as his Gauchos put together an all-around complete game in an 11-6 win over the University of San Francisco.
Brontsema passed Al Ferrer with win No. 446 on Sunday.
“This is meaningful for me because of the quality of the program over the years,” said Bob Brontsema, now in his 17th season as head coach. “When I was an assistant coach and I worked for Al Ferrer and I know the quality of the job he did, so in that respect this is meaningful. It’s a combination of the assistant coaches and all the players that makes this possible.”
Sunday’s win came about because of a combination of timely hitting and good starting pitching. Jesse Meaux threw seven sharp innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out three.
UCSB improves to 11-8 with the win while USF falls to 12-13.
Matt Valaika homered twice for the Gauchos – both shots were no-doubters – and Mark Haddow added a homer himself as each now have a team-leading four this season. Valaika had three RBI and is now second on the team, with Haddow, with 15 RBI.
Gunnar Terhune led the offensive charge with three hits, including two triples, three RBI and two runs scored. As a team the Gauchos had four triples, with Ryan Tregoning and Ryan Palermo also recording their first three-baggers of the season.
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Tregoning capped off a big weekend by going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. In the three-game series with USF the senior outfielder went 5-for-10 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Meaux continued his season-long success. He leads UCSB in victories and ERA as he is 4-1 with a 3.34 ERA this season.
The Gauchos supported the junior from Glendale with two runs in the first inning and three each in the second, third and eighth innings. In the third inning, Haddow led off the frame with his home run and then after Marty Mullins walked, Valaika hit the first of his two shots.
In the eighth, Valaika started the inning with his second homer before Terhune’s triple scored Palermo, who tripled with one out. Terhune came in on Shane Arslan’s pinch-hit single.
The Gauchos travel to Sac State this coming week for a Thursday, Friday and Saturday three-game series. UCSB returns home next Tuesday, April 6, to face Loyola Marymount in a 2 p.m. game at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
