UCSB split the opening day of the 2015 Gaucho Classic with a 5-3 come-from-behind win against Rutgers followed by a 6-0 loss to undefeated Pittsburgh on Friday.
Jacqueline Hinojosa led the Gauchos with three hits on the day, while also making starts in center field. Alex Pingree pitched a complete game win over the Scarlet Knights, as she quelled Rutgers’ hot start and put UCSB in position for its comeback.
RUTGERS
Emily Brucelas, Kristen Clark, Jacqueline Hinojosa, and MeShalon Moore led the team with two hits each. Overall, the Gauchos collected 12 hits.
The Gauchos late-game push started in the bottom of the fourth inning when the team was facing a 3-0 deficit. MeShalon Moore hit the leadoff single through the left side and was soon followed with a single by her sister DeJanee to put runners on first and second.
Jenessa Jeppesen brought in the first Gaucho run with a single chopped up the middle and put runners on the corners.
After being called in to pinch run for Jeppesen, Jessica Johnston was caught in a run down after trying to steal second. While the freshman took the attention of the infield, DeJanee Moore got the green light to score from third and put UCSB within one.
In the fifth inning, Emily Brucelas singled up the middle and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shelby Wisdom connected on a single to send Brucelas home as the tying run.
MeShalon Moore then delivered the Gauchos’ biggest hit of the day with a double to left center, giving UCSB its first lead of the game. Samantha Stark provided the exclamation point of the rally with a flare into left field, which easily scored Moore. All three of UCSB’s scoring plays in the inning were made in consecutive at bats.
Alex Pingree was lights out down the stretch, as she faced 11 batters through the final three innings. Highlighting her performance was a three up, three down seventh. The complete-game effort secured the junior’s first win of the season, as she finished with six punch outs while allowing three earned runs.
PITTSBURGH
Santa Barbara could not get any offense in its second game. With two errors and a lack of offense, the Gauchos ultimately fell to the Panthers, 6-0.
