UCSB suffered consecutive losses on Sunday, the final day of the Gaucho Classic II, at Campus Diamond. The Gauchos fell to UNLV for a second time this weekend, 9-3, before dropping a game to San Diego, 5-2, in the tournament’s closer.
With the losses, UCSB falls to 12-11 overall and 6-4 on its home diamond. UNLV improved to 14-9 and San Diego got above .500 at 8-7.
After going eight innings without a run in Friday’s 2-1 loss to UNLV, the Gauchos were able to jump on the scoreboard early on Sunday when Allison Taylor drove McKenzie Kane home from third base with a two-out single to right field.
The Rebels quickly erased the Gauchos’ one-run lead at the bottom of the same inning when Tayler Van Acker hit a single through the right side, scoring Elena Fata. A Gaucho fielding error in left during the next at-bat gave Pauline Monreal ample time to come home and gave UNLV the 2-1 lead.
UNLV tacked on two runs at the bottom of the third off an RBI triple to right field from Monreal and an RBI double to center off the bat of Kylie Wagner.
UCSB cut the lead to three runs in the fourth when Lainey DePompa hit a single that fell in right center field sending pinch runner Tiffany Corder home from second base.
A two-run homer from Stefany Valentino in the fourth inning and a solo shot by Wagner in the fifth pushed the Rebels’ lead to 7-2.
In the sixth, Taylor hit a double to the fence in center field to lead off and then was brought home by DePompa’s double down the left field line. The run would prove to be the Gauchos’ last of the game.
UNLV tallied two more as Tayler Aleman sent Ashli Holland home with a RBI single and was then driven across home plate by Monreal’s second hit of the game.
Andriana Collins (8-6) suffered the loss after tossing 5.2 innings and allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits. She walked two in the effort. Jenny Liepman pitched 0.1 innings and had a rough outing as she allowed two runs on three hits.
Taylor, who went 2-for-4 with a run, double and RBI, and DePompa, who was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double, paced the Gauchos offensively.
In the tournament closer, San Diego was able to load the bases in the first with a pair of walks and a bunt single. With two outs, Megan Walsh hit a single to center field sending both Kristen Gensler and Dana Prelsnik home to give the Toreros a 2-0 lead.
Pitcher Krista Cobb was able to keep San Diego scoreless across the next four innings, allowing just three hits during that span, but the Gauchos were held hitless through that same stanza as USD hurler Cassidy Coleman retired 12 consecutive batters.
San Diego added to its lead at the top of the sixth when Kimberlee Shimizu scored Jessica Tieszen with a single hit to left field.
Trailing 3-0, UCSB was finally able to break through at the bottom of the sixth. DePompa led off with a double hit to right center field and one out later she was able to score when Tieszen failed to field the throw to second during a pick-off attempt. Megan Walsh then fumbled a catch at first base during McKenzie Kane’s ensuing at-bat, allowing her to reach first and then advance to second. Yet another fielding error, this time by shortstop Kylie Ordos, let Kathryn Pilpil touch first and Kane to score, cutting the San Diego lead to 3-2.
At the top of the seventh, Gensler led off with a single hit just over second base. Cobb was able to retire the next two batters, but with two outs and a runner on, Tieszen hit a home run over the left field fence.
Trailing by three at the bottom of the seventh, Amanda Ziegler hit a triple to right center field, but the next two batters went down in order as San Diego held on for the win.
Coleman (2-1) was impressive for the Toreros as she tossed a complete game and allowed two unearned runs on three hits while striking out 13 of the 26 batters she faced.
For the Gauchos, Cobb (4-5) threw all seven innings and gave up five runs on 10 hits. She walked three and struck out three.
Kane, Ziegler and DePompa accounted for the Gauchos’ three hits during the contest.
UCSB will take the next week off from competition before hitting the road during the Gauchos’ spring break week. The seven-game road swing will begin on Monday, March 21 with a doubleheader against defending national champion UCLA.
