MONROE, La.- UC Santa Barbara (3-0) has started the season in fine form, taking both games of a double header on Friday against Wichita State (0-1) and Louisiana Monroe (1-1).
Junior Andrianna Collins pitched the first game for the UCSB in its 7-1 against the Wichita State Shockers. She struggled through less than two innings of work, surrendering a run in the first and allowing three walks and two hits.
Sophomore Shelby Wisdom was masterful after taking over for Collins, scattering three hits over 5.1 shutout innings and striking out seven.
Wisdom was also one of the main threats on offense for the Gauchos at the designated hitter slot, bringing in two runs on a single of her own. Junior McKenzie Kane continued her hot start to the season as well, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the rout of the Shockers. UCSB collected 11 hits in the game.
Junior Second baseman Kathryn Pilpil has been another Gaucho to start the season on a tear. After going 2-for-3 with a run scored in the first game, she collected another hit in the second game and scored two runs for UCSB in its win against the ULM Warhawks.
Freshman Alex Pingree started the second game in the circle for the Gauchos, allowing only five hits and giving up zero earned runs in its 6-1 win. She out-dueled LMU starter Haylie Wilson, who received little help from the Warriors’ defense, which committed four errors in the game.
Pingree and Wilson both start 2-0 for the Gauchos, a great sign for the upcoming season. UCSB looks to continue its success in the Mardi Gras Classic tomorrow against Northwestern State.
