In the second day of the Gaucho Classic, UC Santa Barbara (1-2) fell in their rematch with Texas A&M (4-0) by a score of 8-0. The Aggies talented offense continued to produce at an extraordinary rate, averaging just over 10 runs per game for the young season. The game ended after 6 innings as a result of the mercy rule.
The Gauchos’ starting pitcher Shelby Wisdom held Texas A&M to just one base runner through the first 3 innings, retiring the first 8 batters of the game before Brittany Clopton singled with two outs in the third. Wisdom was able to strikeout Emily Albus to end the frame, her fourth and final punch out of the day.
Unfortunately, Wisdom’s next 2 innings did not go as smoothly. Cassie Tysarczyk banged a RBI single up the middle in the fourth inning, and April Ryan followed with a two out two run homer in the fifth. Tysarczyk notched her second RBI of the day later in the inning to give the Aggies a 4-0 lead. Wisdom finished with 5 innings pitched, 4 earned runs, and 4 K’s.
Four runs were more than enough support for Aggies starter Katie Marks, who went the distance without surrendering a run to earn her second win of the season. Marks gave up just 3 hits on the day in 6 innings of work while striking out 3 and walking 1 for the complete game shutout.
UCSB threatened to put the first run on the scoreboard in the early going, but failed to come up with the clutch hit. In the second, Lauren Boser sacrificed Wisdom to second base, but a strikeout by Kathryn Pilpil and a line out to the first baseman by Emily Brucelas left her stranded. Then, in the third, Kristen Clark cracked a triple to left field with two outs, but Arianna Palomares flew out to left to end the inning.
Alex Pingree came in to pitch in the top of the sixth, but Texas A&M rallied for four more runs to bring the score to 8-0.
While the team as a whole struggled offensively, Clark was able to provide a spark for the Gauchos by going 2-3, including the third inning triple. Clark actually had 3 hits, but her leadoff single in the first was negated because the number she was wearing and that written on the lineup card differed.
UCSB will play their last game of the Gaucho Classic I tomorrow at 1:00pm tomorrow against Cal State Bakersfield.
