The UCSB softball team got the 2011 season off on the right foot on Friday as it opened season with a 3-2 victory over Western Kentucky in the first game of the Gaucho Classic I.
The Gauchos played a second game later in the day against Wichita State, but after 5.5 innings of play, the game was postponed due to darkness. UCSB and Wichita State will conclude the contest, which the Gauchos are leading 3-2, at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Several of the Gaucho freshmen had standout performances in their debuts Friday morning. Freshman pitcher Andriana Collins started and tossed a complete game to earn her first collegiate win. The lefty allowed just one earned run on five hits while walking three and striking out six. She threw three hitless innings to open the game.
Meanwhile, freshmen infielders Lauren Boser and Kathryn Pilpil each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Pilpil posted a double and a run while Boser drove in two of the Gauchos’ three runs.
Rounding out the Gaucho leaders was junior Lainey DePompa, who was 2-for-3 with a double and the game-winning RBI.
