UCSB closed out the Gaucho Classic with a 14-6 loss against St. Mary’s at Campus Diamond.
The Gauchos finished 1-4 in the tournament, while their overall record moves to 3-7. The Gaels earned their second win of the weekend and improved to 3-7 on the year.
Arianna Palmores provided the offensive spark for her team in going a perfect 3-3 at the plate, as she connected on three doubles. DeJanee Moore meanwhile had the biggest hit of the game for UCSB with a solo shot in the fourth inning, and Jenessa Jeppesen paced the Gauchos with two RBI.
In the circle, St. Mary’s Katie Moss earned the win through her 3.2 innings of work in allowing one earned run. For UCSB, Pingree pitched the lion’s share of the game with 3.2 and allowed three earned runs.
A nine-run first inning by the Gaels put UCSB in a big hole to start the game, but the Gauchos were able to respond with five runs with their first at bats.
Palomares roped her first double of the day down the left field line to give UCSB a runner on base with one out. She was moved to third thanks to a single from Emily Brucelas on the next at bat, which gave MeShalon Moore runners on the corners.
The catcher came through with an RBI single dropped into left field to put the Gauchos on the board at 9-1. Samantha Stark continued the scoring with another left field single to send Brucelas across home plate.
UCSB went on to score another run in its third consecutive at bat when Jeppesen singled up the middle to drive in Moore. On the same play, Stark had the chance to score after Gael centerfielder Monika Reichhardt ‘s error, giving UCSB its fourth run of the inning.
St. Mary’s swapped starting pitcher Lujane Mussadi for Moss after those scores, but the Gauchos still came through with one more run off a sacrifice fly from Jaqueline Hinojosa.
Following a quiet second inning, UCSB continued to cut into the Gaels’ lead behind DeJanee Moore’s one-run jack over left field, making it 9-6.
In both the second and fourth innings, Palomares led off with doubles, but Moss denied the Gauchos the chance to bring her or any other player across home plate. UCSB was held to two runs and left three on base in those innings.
With the Gaels scoring five more runs (including four in the fifth), the Gauchos could not find a response on offense, as the game ended after the fifth inning 14-6.
UCSB will be back in action next weekend when it travels to Cathedral City, Calif. for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Gauchos will open the tournament with BYU on Thursday, Feb. 19 and will compete through Sunday.
