BAKERSFIELD ? UCSB first year head coach Andrew Checketts did something on Sunday none of his predecessors were able to accomplish.
The Gauchos’ 5-2 win over CSU Bakersfield gave the new UCSB skipper his 28th win of the season, assuring Checketts of the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history. UCSB finishes the 2012 season at 28-28 overall.
Brett Vertigan, Brandon Trinkwon and Greg Mahle all had three hits for the Gauchos as UCSB outhit the Roadrunners, 14-6.
Austin Pettibone pitched seven strong innings and allowed five hits and just two runs.
Senior right-hander Matt Vedo struck out four batters in his 2.0 innings pitched to record his third save of the year. The four K’s gave Vedo 112 on the season which ranks him third all-time in single-season history. The four punchouts also gives Vedo and Andrew Vasquez the most strikeouts by any duo in UCSB history as they passed Barry Zito and Bryan Noyes (212 combined in 1997) this weekend.
Trinkwon had a pair of doubles and Mahle had an RBI to tie him for the team lead with Lance Roenicke as each had 35 RBI.
Vertigan’s three hits gave him 90 on the season, which is the sixth-highest mark in school history.
