UCSB lost its Big West softball series with Cal Poly on Saturday afternoon in a 9-4 decision at Bob Janssen Field.
Shelby Wisdom’s team-leading seventh home run of the season highlighted UCSB’s work on offense, while the Mustangs (19-21, 2-4) opened the game with five runs and never looked back.
Kristen Clark led the Gauchos (15-24, 2-4), going 2-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk, as six of her teammates recorded a hit.
Alex Pingree (7-7) started the game, but recorded one out after allowing three earned runs, including a two-run homer. Lena Mayer initially came in for relief, but she gave up an RBI single down the left-field line and was replaced by Ashley Ludlow. Though the junior, allowed a pair of RBI singles through her first two batters, she got the Gauchos out of the inning with two infield outs. Ludlow finished the game with 5 2/3 innings with four earned runs and a strike out.
The Gauchos were quick to respond with two runs in the second. After two quick outs, DeJanee Moore got on base with a hit by pitch and was followed up by back-to-back doubles. First, Stacy Cavazos connected on a double to right center, easily sending Moore home as UCSB’s first run. Kristen Clark then shot a double through the left side to run in Cavazos, making the score 5-2.
In the bottom of the second, the Mustangs loaded the bases for its designated player Betsy Colburn. She went on to send them all home after roping a triple down the right field line, increasing her team’s lead to six runs.
Wisdom added another run to the UCSB effort with a homer to left field in leading off the third. She has now hit 27 homers in her career and sits only five away from becoming the program’s all-time leader.
