UCSB’s Shelby Wisdom
After a weekend highlighted by a complete game shutout, Shelby Wisdom was named the Big West Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the conference on Monday.
The junior started three of the Gauchos’ five games at the Fresno State Kick-Off and came away with two wins and an impressive 1.25 ERA.
Perhaps Wisdom’s most impressive outing came against CSU Bakersfield, a team she has now shutout twice this season. Wisdom only faced 27 batters in the game and allowed just five hits.
The Elk Grove, Calif. native also came out on top of an eight-inning pitcher’s duel against Sacramento State. In the 3-2 Gaucho win, the junior displayed clutch pitching with runners in scoring position.
As the game went into extras, Wisdom gave UCSB the chance to end it in the eighth after holding the Hornets scoreless at the top of the inning. Sacramento State was able to move a runner to third after a sacrifice bunt, and Wisdom and the Gauchos defense made sure that’s where the runner stayed as she forced the following two batters into a lineout to the shortstop and a groundout to third, respectively.
Against Fresno State, Wisdom kept the Gauchos competitive in another eight-inning battle that ended in a 6-5 loss. She put in 7.1 innings of work and only allowed two earned runs.
It is the third time the junior has garnered the honor, as she earned the accolade twice during her freshman campaign.
The last Gaucho pitcher to earn pitcher of the week honors was Alex Pingree who tossed three shutouts in one week as a freshman.
UCSB will continue its season next week at Florida State in the Unconquered Classic where the Gauchos are scheduled to face Northern Iowa, Wichita State, Florida A&M, along with the host Seminoles.
