UCSB (12-33, 3-11) ensured its first Big West series win of the season with a pair of victories over Long Beach State (21-24, 5-9) on Saturday at Campus Diamond. The Gauchos won the doubleheader by way of 5-2 and 2-1 scores, securing their first series win over the 49ers since the 2001 season.
Sophomore pitcher Krista Cobb was in the circle for both games and improved to 4-11 on the season with the pair of complete game victories. She allowed just three earned runs in 14 innings of work.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, Long Beach scored first when Liz Javier hit a two-out RBI single to center field driving Ashley Weber home. The 49ers struck again in the second inning. With one out, Jodi Nakawatase hit a single to left field and following a double from Ashley Levine, she was sent home by a sacrifice fly to right field by Bree Stephan.
Trailing 2-0, the Gauchos battled back at the bottom of the second when Amanda Ziegler hit a two-run homer over the left field fence, driving Lainey DePompa across home plate.
Two innings later, with two outs and two runners on-base, Keilani Jennings hit a home run over the right field fence sending Jackie Sweet and Jessica Beristianoshome and giving the Gauchos a 5-2 lead.
Cobb walked four and struck out five while allowing seven hits in the win. Jennings led the Gauchos with two of their six hits, including her game-winning home run.
Bridgette Pagano (3-2) took the loss for the 49ers after tossing six innings and forfeiting five earned runs on six hits. She walked one and struck out two.
Long Beach once again gained an early lead in the second game of the twin bill. At the top of third inning, Casey Burba scored from second base on a single to center field by Ashley Weber to give the 49ers a narrow 1-0 lead.
At the bottom of the same inning, Jamie Adishian led off with a single hit up the middle and a sac bunt from Jackie Sweet pushed the runner to second. A single to short center field by Jessica Zieglerduring the next play sent the speedy Adishian home. Ziegler, who advanced to second on the play, came home when Brooke Putich hit her own single to center during the ensuing at-bat.
The 49ers fought to come back at the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Jennifer Madigan reached first on a walk to open the inning. On the next play, Burba hit a ground ball to second base that was fielded cleanly by Sweet. The second baseman attempted to tag Madigan on her way to second and then throw Burba out at first. Both runners were declared safe, however, and a sac bunt from Bree Stephan pushed them into scoring position.
During the next at-bat Alisha Rosen flied out to Amanda Ziegler in left field, whose throw to DePompa at home beat out Rosen as she attempted to score, ending the game and the 49ers’ rally.
Cobb allowed just one earned run on seven hits in the win while walking one and striking out two. Putich led the Gauchos at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Taylor Petty (9-13) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits in her three innings of work. She struck out six and did not forfeit a walk. Brooke Turner closed the game and held the Gauchos hitless in the final three innings while walking one and striking out two.
The Gauchos will return to Campus Diamond on Sunday to complete their series with Long Beach State at noon. To purchase tickets, click here.
