UCSB came from behind to defeat Cal State Northridge, 5-4, in eight innings during the teams’ Big West series opener on Friday afternoon at Campus Diamond.
The Matadors used a big third inning to propel themselves to a 9-2 win
in the second game of the twin bill.
The series will be decided on Sunday in a rubber game at noon at Campus Diamond.
With the split, UCSB now stands at 23-20 on the season and 7-4 in Big West play. The
Matadors have gone 16-27 overall and 4-7 in league games.
Trailing 4-3 at the bottom of the eighth inning in game one, senior Jessica Beristianos hit her
second home run of the season over the right field fence to tie the game. The Matador
coaches proceeded to pull pitcher Carly Wade, who had previously allowed the Gauchos to tie
the game at the bottom of the seventh when Lauren Boser hit a two-out base hit to left field
scoring McKenzie Kane. Her replacement, Hannah Fraijo, hit Amanda Ziegler with a pitch
before striking out the next batter.
With one out and a runner on second, Kathryn Pilpil hit a double to deep left center field
driving Ziegler home for the game-winning run.
Northridge had struck first in the game when Madeline Sale hit a two-out RBI single to score
Mikayla Thielges.
The Gauchos battled back in the third when, with two runners on and two outs, Allison Taylor
sent a hit through the left side sending Pilpil across home plate. A single up the middle by
Lainey DePompa scored Kane to give UCSB its first lead of the day at 2-1.
The Matadors knotted things up in the fifth when Sale hit her second RBI single of the game
to center field. Then, in the seventh, Sale captured the lead for Northridge with an RBI double
to left field, scoring Tracy Allen, who was at second after a double of her own.
Krista Cobb (11-9) went the distance for the Gauchos pitching the complete game and
allowing four runs on four hits. She walked five and struck out six in the win.
At the plate, Brooke Putich was impressive, going 3-for-4. Amanda Zielger, who has been
worked into the lineup after Keilani Jennings suffered an injury last week, had a strong outing
as well going 2-for-3 with the game-winning run.
In game two, the Gauchos were able to get ahead first at the bottom of the first inning when
Lauren Boser sent a single to right field pushing Pilpil home from second base.
The Gaucho lead didn’t last long as Northridge’s offense exploded in the third inning.
Samantha Slonicker gave CSUN the lead with a double hit down the left field line that
bounced off of the third base giving both Mihm and Jaci Carlsen ample time to score. An RBI
double by Thielges followed and after a single from Allen, Sale drove home Thielges.
UCSB earned the first out of the inning when Korrine Randazzo hit into a fielder’s choice, but
the Matadors were not done. Jessica Fridwall singled up the middle during the next at-bat to
score Allen and bring the Northridge lead to 5-1.
Jenny Liepman came in to relieve Andriana Collins in the circle and was able to gain the final
two outs on a sacrifice fly by Karla Chapparo and a fly out to right field by Mihm.
Northridge added three more runs in the fifth when Mihm hit a homer over the left field
fence. In danger of having the game called due to the run rule, UCSB was able to prolong play
when DePompa drove Pilpil home with an RBI single to center field at the bottom of the fifth.
Collins (12-11) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) off of seven hits in 2.1
innings of work. She walked one and struck out two. Liepman also went 2.1 innings and
allowed three earned runs off of three hits while walking two. Cobb came in a finished the
game; she did not allow a hit or a walk while striking out two. Pilpil led the team going 2-
for-3 with both of the Gauchos’ runs in the loss.
