RENO, Nev. – With a pair of home runs, UC Santa Barbara completed the sweep at the Nevada Classic with a 4-2 win over Seattle.
The Gauchos’ record stands at 15-5 after downing the Red Hawks for the second time this weekend, while Seattle falls to 10-14.
After a scoreless first inning, the Gauchos picked up an early 2-0 lead with small ball offense. With two runners on first and second, Shelby Wisdom laid down a sacrifice bunt to move UCSB into scoring position.
Jenessa Jeppesen, who made the start at third base, then singled to center field to give her team the 1-0 lead. Emily Brucelas followed that at bat with by grounding out to the pitcher, which gave Lauren Boser the chance to score.
The Red Hawks were able to find the scoreboard at the bottom of the second after a wild pitch Andriana Collins sent a runner home. Collins bounced back quickly and ended the inning with a strike out and a lineout to right field.
Carrying a one-run lead, the Gauchos tacked on another run thanks to a lead off homer from Boser in the top of the fourth. The first baseman is the team’s leading slugger (.500) and has recorded the most extra base hits with eight.
Two innings later, UCSB’s lead was cut to 3-2 after Seattle hit a solo shot of its own. Jeppesen decided to get in on the home run action and sent a ball flying over the left field wall to put the Gauchos up by two.
After tossing five innings, Collins finished with the win and held the Red Hawks’ offense to just a pair of runs. Shelby Wisdom came in for relief and picked up her first save of the season. The junior initially loaded the bases with one out when she entered the circle. However, Wisdom used her infield and forced Seattle into a double play to get the Gauchos out of the pinch.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wisdom hit the first batter but then recorded three consecutive outs to end the game.
Santa Barbara will take its four-game winning streak back to Campus Diamond next week when it hosts the Gaucho Classic II. Tournament play will begin on Thursday when UCSB plays Utah State at 3 p.m. Tickets for all of next weekend’s games are available at the Ticketing Office in the Intercollegiate Athletics Building, over the phone at 805.893.UCSB (8272).
