SAN LUIS OBISPO – Alex Pingree outlasted Cal Poly’s Jordan Yates in the pitcher’s duel propelling UC Santa Barbara to a 1-0 victory over Cal Poly on Wednesday night at Bob Janssen Field. The victory secured the sweep of the double header and improved the Gauchos record to 23-15 while Cal Poly drops to 16-24.
Pingree (4-2) scattered four hits and struck out four on her way to a complete game shutout. UCSB’s offense was held at bay for much of the game until the fifth inning when they compiled three of their five hits in the game.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Lauren Boser got things going with a base hit through the right side. After a strike out by Samantha Stark to give the Mustangs two outs, Jessica Reichner singled down the left field line. McKenzie Kane would come in to pinch run for Boser, and would come around to score on a clutch line-drive single up the middle by Jessica Soria. With UCSB threatening to extend their lead, Yates got Arianna Palomares to ground out to end the inning.
Cal Poly led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single, but spoiled their chances with a botched bunt attempt resulting in a pop out. Pingree got the next batter to ground out into a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cal Poly would have one last chance to make something happen but Pingree pitched a 1-2-3 inning including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Jenessa Jeppesen and Stark added the other hits on the day for UCSB.
Earlier in the day, Palomares drove in two runs and starting pitcher Shelby Wisdom allowed only one to cross the plate as the Gauchos were victorious in the doubleheader opener 3-1.
