The UCSB softball team rebounded from a pair of narrow losses on Friday and defeated visiting Wisconsin, 7-0, on Saturday, the second day of the Gaucho Classic II at Campus Diamond.
With the win, UCSB improves to 12-9 on the season while Wisconsin falls to 6-7.
Andriana Collins (8-5) tossed the complete game shutout, her fourth of the season. She limited the Badgers to just four hits, did not walk a batter and tallied four strikeouts.
UCSB wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. At the bottom of the first, Kathryn Pilpil reached first when Badger shortstop Stephanie Peach committed a fielding error. Jessica Beristianos followed with a walk. One out later, Allison Taylor hit a double to deep right center
field to send both runners home, unearned.
At the bottom of the second, Lainey DePompa got the ball rolling for the Gauchos, literally, as she hit a slow rolling single down the first base line with one out. McKenzie Kane followed with an infield single hit to the shortstop one out later to put two runners on. Kathryn Pilpil then hit UCSB’s second two-out double of the game, sending the ball into left center field and driving DePompa and Kane home in the process.
UCSB continued its two-run trend at the bottom of the third. Taylor led off with a walk and Lauren Boser laid down a bunt single during the next at-bat. Katie McWhirter was able to load the bases on the next play when second baseman Michelle Mueller bobbled the ball on what should have been a ground out. DePompa followed with a blooper over the shortstop that sent Taylor across home plate. Two outs later, Pilpil drew a walk with the bases still loaded, leaving Boser nowhere to go but home.
The Gauchos tacked on a final run in the sixth inning. After leading off with a single to right center field, Beristianos stole second. She then advanced to third when Taylor grounded out to the catcher. Boser then hit a double to deep left center sending Beristianos home and giving the Gauchos the final 7-0 count.
At the plate, UCSB was led by the solid efforts of several players. Pilpil went 1-for-3 with a run, three RBI and a double. Taylor was 2-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a run while DePompa went 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI. Boser and Kane each had a pair of hits and a run and Boser chipped in a RBI.
Meghan McIntosh (2-6) took the loss for the Badgers after tossing 2.2 innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits. She walked four and struck out five. Amanda Najdeck pitched 3.1 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits while striking out four. UCSB will conclude action at the Gaucho Classic II on Sunday with a pair of games. The Gauchos will face UNLV at 11:45 a.m. and San Diego at 2 p.m.
