SAN JOSE – A strong start by freshman Andrew Vasquez and a solid finish by Jeremy Peterson led the UCSB baseball team to a 3-2 win over San Jose State on Saturday.
The victory, the Gauchos’ third in four games, gave them the series victory, the first time UCSB has won a season series over San Jose State since 2005. The teams have met nearly every year for a series over the past decade.
The win evened UCSB’s record at 3-3.
Vasquez, making his second Division 1 start, allowed just four hits and one earned run in 6 innings, striking out seven. He earned his first collegiate victory.
Peterson, a senior right-hander, grabbed his first Division 1 save with his 2.1 innings of relief. The 6-foot-6 native of San Diego struck out four batters and allowed just two hits.
The Gauchos struck first by scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the third. After a pair of groundouts, Brett Vertigan doubled down the right field line and Lance Roenicke followed with a RBI double. Brandon Trinkwon hit another run-scoring double – one of four by UCSB – for a 2-0 lead.
San Jose State scratched out a run in the bottom of the inning on a fielding error.
Joe Winterburn’s RBI double in the sixth inning brought around Marc Venning and gave the Gauchos the insurance run they would need.
Andre Mercurio singled in a run off relief pitcher Greg Mahle in the bottom of the seventh, but rightfielder Joey Wallace threw out Kyle Gallegos trying to score from second to keep the Gauchos ahead, 3-2.
Peterson relieved Mahle and walked a batter before striking out Zach Jones looking. In the eighth, the Spartans threatened with runners on first and second with two outs, but Peterson struck out Mike Aldrete to end the inning and give UCSB the win.
The Gauchos and Spartans finish their series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
