SAN JOSE – UCSB hit six doubles Sunday and escaped another ninth-inning comeback attempt by San Jose State, as the Gauchos completed a three-game sweep of the Spartans with a 5-2 win at Municipal Stadium.
Lance Roenicke led UCSB (4-3) with two doubles and two RBIs. The Gauchos added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on doubles by Joe Wallace and Roenicke to give themselves a 5-2 lead.
San Jose State (1-5) started the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back singles from Jacob Valdez and pinch-hitter Kalei Contrades. A fielder’s choice by Kyle Gallegos gave the Spartans runners on the corners with one out, trailing by three.
Leadoff hitter Andre Mercurio then lined a ball down the first base line that looked to be heading into right field and keep the Spartans’ rally going, but Gaucho first baseman Marc Venning dove to his left and caught the ball, then crawled to the first base bag to double up Gallegos and end the game
