DAVIS – After splitting Friday’s Big West Conference doubleheader at La Rue Field, UCSB and UC Davis (26-27, 15-6) went into extra innings to decide Saturday’s rubber game. The Gauchos came out on top, using a five-run eighth inning to defeat the league’s winner, 7-2.
The series win marked the Gauchos’ second of the season. UCSB finishes the year with a 15-37 overall mark and a 6-15 Big West record.
As has been the case throughout the series with Davis, the Gauchos struck first. At the top of the order in the first inning, Jessica Ziegler reached first with a bunt single. Two outs later, Ziegler stole second – marking her 21st steal of the season – before a single up the middle by Jessica Beristianos drove her home.
At the top of the fourth, Beristianos led off and reached first after being hit by a pitch. She was bunted over by Keilani Jennings’ sacrifice hit. Priscilla Perez followed with an infield single and Beristianos was able to reach home after pitcher Alex Holmes committed a throwing error, giving UCSB a 2-0 advantage.
During the same inning, UCD was able to load the bases with one out before Marissa Araujo hit a fielder’s choice driving Holmes home and cutting the Gaucho lead to just one run.
UCSB continued to lead until the bottom of the seventh when a solo home run by Araujo tied the game at 2-2. UCSB was able to escape without further damage and turned a double play to end the inning, bringing their school-record setting season total to 23 double plays.
Determined to end their season on a high note, the Gauchos opened the eighth inning on fire. Katie McWhirter led off with an infield single before Beristianos drew a walk. Another sacrifice bunt from Jennings pushed both runners into scoring position and a double from Perez drove pinch runner Brooke Putich home for what would prove to be the game-winning run. A single by Lainey DePompa to center field followed, sending Beristianos home.
The Aggie coaching staff then rotated Dana Waldusky back into the circle, but the pitching change did not slow down the Gauchos as Amanda Ziegler singled to center field pushing Perez home. One out later, Jessica Ziegler singled down the left field line, loading the bases and setting the table for Jamie Adishian, who ensued with a two-RBI single to left center field. When the Gaucho onslaught was over, UCSB had gained a 7-2 lead.
Holmes tripled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth and Sarah Axelson earned a walk but UCSB pitcher Krista Cobb got out of the inning unscathed, solidifying the win for the Gauchos.
Cobb improved to 8-13 on the season with the victory. She tossed two innings of relief and allowed just one hit and one walk. MeLinda Matsumoto started the game and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk in 3.1 innings. Lindsey Correa tossed 2.2 innings and allowed one earned run on four hits with four strike outs.
At the plate, Jessica Ziegler went 3-for-4 with a run and a walk while Adishian went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Perez and Amanda Ziegler each also tallied two hits, a run and an RBI.
Holmes (16-9) took the loss for the Aggies after allowing six earned runs on nine hits in 7.1 innings of work. She walked three and struck out three. Waldusky tossed 0.2 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits while fanning one.
Sunday’s game marked the final collegiate contest for Gaucho seniors Kelsey Anderson, Lindsey Correa, MeLinda Matsumoto, Priscilla Perez and Jessica Ziegler.
