PULLMAN, Wash. – A day after waiting out the weather in frigid Washington, the UC Santa Barbara baseball team’s bats didn’t acclimate to the weather well as the Gauchos were swept in a Saturday doubleheader, 5-1 and 7-3.
In the two games the Gauchos managed just seven combined hits vs. the Washington State pitchers in weather where the highs were predicted to hit the low-20s. Friday’s opener was postponed due to chilly weather. The teams will wrap up their series on Sunday at noon.
UCSB (3-2) scored in just two innings – getting a solo home run from Joe Wallace in the ninth inning of the first game and scored three runs in the second inning of the second.
That gave Santa Barbara a 3-1 lead in game two, but the Cougars (4-1) came back for three runs in the third inning, a run in the fourth and two runs in the sixth.
UCSB took its lead in the second inning with two runs coming on Joe Winterburn’s double and another came in on Ben Edelstein’s ground out, but that was as much as the Gaucho offense could muster.
Matt Vedo, who opened his Gaucho career with a solid outing last weekend, lasted just three innings, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks.
Jesse Meaux, making his 2011 debut, went 7.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
Wallace’s homer was his second of the season.
After Sunday’s game, the Gauchos continue their road trip with a game at Pepperdine at 2 p.m. which will be broadcast live on UCSBgauchos.com. UCSB returns to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium with a three-game series vs.
Sacramento State starting March 4.
