UCSB’s (9-30, 0-8) struggles continued on Saturday as the Gauchos dropped both games in a Big West Conference doubleheader at UC Riverside (21-10, 6-2) at the Highlanders’ Amy S. Harrison Field. With the two wins, UCR wins its first conference series against UCSB and stretched the Gauchos’ current losing streak to 13 games.
In the first contest, Riverside jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Marissa Alvidrez hit a double to left field sending home Kameryn Hebenton for the first run and Brittany Kenney’s base hit to center during the next at-bat sent Taylor Thomas home. The Highlanders added a third run in the third inning off lf a single by Alexis Pickett.
The Gauchos were able to get on the scoreboard at the top of the fifth. With two outs, Brooke Putich singled to left field and advanced on a Highlander error. A timely double down the right field line by Jessica Beristianos pushed Putich across home plate and cut UCR’s lead to two runs.
Riverside responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the same inning as Kenney scored off a sacrifice fly by Hebenton.
UCSB tacked on its second run of the game in the sixth when Keilani Jennings hit a solo homer over the left field fence.
Leading 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Highlanders tacked on three more runs. A wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Hebenton to score her second run of the game before an RBI single to left field by Alvidrez drove Ariel Shore home. The final run scored was by Thomas following a Gaucho error bringing the final score to 7-2.
Lindsey Correa (3-11) was credited with the loss after pitching the first 2.1 innings of the game. She allowed three earned runs on three hits while walking two and striking out three. MeLinda Matsumoto pitched 3.2 innings of relief and allowed four runs – three earned – on six hits while walking a pair.
At the plate, Beristianos led the way going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jamie Adishian also tallied two hits for the Gauchos.
The Gauchos outhit Riverside in the second game, 8-4, but left seven runners stranded during the nightcap.
Game two remained scoreless through three innings until the Gauchos broke through at the top of the fourth. Allison Taylor led off with a base hit to right center and Katie McWhirter followed with bunt single to put a pair of runners on with not outs. Jennings grounded out to first base on the next play, pushing both runners into scoring position. A single by Adishian during the next play sent pinch runner Tiffany Corder home and gave UCSB a 1-0 lead.
At the bottom of the fifth, the Highlanders mounted their comeback, loading the bases with just one out. Thomas singled to center field driving home two runs and putting the Highlanders ahead, 2-1. On the following play, Alvidrez doubled to center sending home two more UCR runners.
UCSB battled back in the final inning as Lainey DePompa and Jackie Sweet posted consecutive one-out singles. The Highlanders were able to shutdown the rally though, earning the final two outs on a pair of fielder’s choices to preserve the 4-1 win.
Krista Cobb (2-9) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits. She walked four and struck out two. Offensively, Putich and McWhirter each were 2-for-3 during the contest.
The Gauchos will look to complete the three-game set with the Highlanders on a high-note Sunday as they take on UC Riverside at noon at Amy S. Harrison Field.
