Pacific (22-28, 8-9 Big West) captured a pair of 7-0 wins over UCSB (13-35, 4-13 Big West) on Saturday afternoon in a Big West Conference doubleheader at Campus Diamond.
The Tigers limited UCSB to just four hits ¬- two in each game – during the twin bill.
Despite the losses, UCSB was able to set a new school record for double plays in a season after turning its 20th at the top of the fifth inning of the second game.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Santa Barbara’s struggles began early in the day as they gave up two runs at the top of the first inning of game one. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs following a walk by Lindsey Pierce and consecutive singles by Megan Hom and Nikki Armagost. Karie Wilson’s one-out single to left center field then drove Pierce and Hom home.
Pitcher Krista Cobb quickly found her form and struck out the next two batters to escape the inning. She held Pacific scoreless for the next three innings, but the Tigers struck again in the fifth.
Armagost stretched the Pacific lead to three with a sacrifice fly to left field pushing Pierce home from third base. Kellee Wilson followed with a double to left field and then Karie Wilson earned a walk. A single up the middle by Alexa Rivera sent the first Wilson home and a single by Megan Wilson on the following play drove home the latter to give the Tigers a 5-0 lead.
Pacific tacked on two more unearned runs at the top of the sixth to finish the game with the 7-0 win.
Cobb (6-12) took the loss after allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in her five innings of work. She walked two and fanned four. MeLinda Matsumoto finished the game and had two unearned runs scored on just one hit. She did not allow a walk and struck out one.
Jessica Ziegler and Brooke Putich accounted for the Gauchos’ two hits during the contest. Ziegler’s hit was the 158th of her career, moving her into to a tie with Stacy Atwood (1993-96) for ninth all-time in the UCSB record books.
Shaina Brock (7-9) won the game after tossing a complete game two-hitter. She walked one and struck out seven in the Tiger victory. Pierce led the squad going 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk.
The second game got out to a smoother start for the Gauchos as pitcher Lindsey Correa limited the Tigers to just one hit in the first three innings. The fourth inning was when things started to go south.
Correa walked Armagost to open the inning and then hit Kelli Wilson to put two runners on with no outs. A sac bunt from Kari Wilson moved both batters into scoring position and one out later, Allen walked, loading the bases. With a 2-2 count and two outs, Amy Moore hit a base-clearing double to deep left center, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Hendrickson continued the onslaught with a single hit straight over Correa’s head. Pierce followed with an RBI single to shortstop, sending Moore home. A fielding error by Keilani Jennings on the following play allowed the Tigers to once again load the bases and another error on the following play sent Hendrickson home for Pacific’s fifth run of the inning.
A double hit to left center by Rivera with one out at the top of the seventh drove Armagost and Kellee Wilson home, pushing the Tigers ahead 7-0.
Correa (3-12) took the loss in the circle after tossing four innings and allowing five runs ¬- four earned – on four hits while walking three. Matsumoto pitched three innings of relief and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk. Priscilla Perez led the Gauchos at the plate going 2-for-3.
Armagost (11-11) captured the complete game victory for the Tigers after allowing just Perez’s two hits while walking one and fanning three.
The Gauchos will return to Campus Diamond on Sunday for their final home game of the season against Pacific. The game is scheduled for a noon start and the five Gaucho seniors will be honored prior to first pitch.
