DAVIS – Arianna Palomares’ sixth inning sacrifice fly was all UC Santa Barbara needed to clinch the series victory at UC Davis. The 1-0 game featured a pitcher’s duel between Shelby Wisdom and Dana Cruse who both put in complete game efforts.
The Gauchos improve to 28-17 and remain in second place with an 8-4 conference record. The Aggies fall to 15-27 and 4-8 in the Big West.
Wisdom (16-12) had to face only 26 batters in the game, as she allowed just four hits and a walk. The junior shut down the UC Davis offense, as they got into scoring position two times. UCSB has won seven of its past eight games and Wisdom has pitched all 55 innings during that stretch.
In the third inning, the Aggies looked to get on the scoreboard with Alicia Paine who led off with a single to left field. She advanced to third after a groundout and an infield single, but Wisdom preserved the tie as she forced a fly out to end the inning.
Santa Barbara scored the game’s only run in the sixth after Cavazos got on base from a hit by pitch. The freshman center fielder promptly stole second during the next at bat and went to third after a Kristen Clark sacrifice bunt.
Palomares finished the job with a sacrifice fly to deep center. After missing 22 games due to injury, the game winning RBI was the sophomore’s first since March 8.
UC Davis would only get one more hit after that and never had a legitimate threat of scoring. Wisdom forced the Aggies into a three up three down inning in the seventh as she retired the side the a fly out and a pair of groundouts.
The Gauchos return home next weekend when they host Hawai’i in a three game series starting with a doubleheader on Saturday April 26.
