LONG BEACH – After having a game cancelled yesterday and their originally scheduled first game of today postponed, UC Santa Barbara (11-5) struggled early against Northwestern (11-4), eventually falling 10-1 in 5 innings.
After winning their first two games of the Louisville Slugger Invitational on Thursday, storms and heavy rain kept the Gauchos from playing Oregon St. yesterday. This morning’s game against Louisville has been postponed until tomorrow.
Shelby Wisdom (4-4) had an unusually short outing, lasting 2 innings while allowing 4 earned runs with 1 strikeout. Wisdom has been dominant in the circle for most of the season, entering the day with a 2.27 ERA.
After falling behind 3-0 in the first couple of innings, the Wildcats broke the game open in the top of third. After a lead off home run and a couple of base hits, Wisdom was pulled and Andriana Collins came in to pitch. Northwestern did not let up there, scoring 6 runs by the time the third out was made.
UCSB threatened numerous times in the early going, but were unable to score until the fourth.
In the bottom of the first inning, Kristen Clark led off with a single and promptly stole second. With a runner in scoring position and a chance to tie the game at the time, the Gauchos were unable to deliver. In the third, UCSB left two runners on base.
The Gauchos finally cracked the scoreboard in the fourth, as Stacy Cavazos’ two out double drove in Rieanne Thomas. Clark then struck out with runners at second and third to end the inning.
Despite the loss, UCSB had a couple of bright spots. Clark collected 2 hits and a stolen base, and Emily Brucelas tacked on 2 base knocks of her own.
The second game of the day for UC Santa Barbara, against Illinois, lasted just two and a half innings before it was cancelled due to extensive rainfall. On the day, only two games were completed in the entire Louisville Slugger Invitational due to the inclement weather. The Gauchos are scheduled to makeup their game with Louisville tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.
