UC Santa Barbara Softball opened up the 2025 season with a doubleheader split on the first day of the New Mexico State Invitational on Friday.
The Gauchos (1-1) opened the day with a 1-0 loss to Colorado State before the offense exploded for a 10-8 victory over tournament host New Mexico State.
UCSB will continue the New Mexico State Invitational on Saturday with another doubleheader against the two teams. The Gauchos will face Colorado State at 10:30 a.m. PT and New Mexico State at 3:30 p.m. PT.
Game 1: Colorado State 1, UCSB 0
The lone run of Friday’s season opener came in the bottom of the first inning via a Colorado State RBI single.
The middle innings were highlighted by the dominant pitching of Colorado State’s Reagan Wick and UCSB senior Grace Luderer, who finished the game tossing six innings while allowing one run on seven hits and striking out three.
The Gauchos had a shot to tie the game in the sixth when Erin Mendoza reached on an error and advanced to second on a groundout. However, they couldn’t bring her home and ultimately fell in shutout fashion.
“Grace Luderer threw really well and kept CSU hitters off balance which gave us a chance to win the game,” UCSB head coach Jo Evans said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t put anything together offensively.”
Game 2: UCSB 10, New Mexico State 8
The second game of the day was a different story, as the Gauchos used an eight-run fourth inning to outslug the Aggies.
“I am pleased with the way we bounced back against New Mexico State,” Evans said. “We scored early and answered back after giving up the lead. We put pressure on their defense and I thought our hitters did a great job of executing our game plan.
“Sam Stoll gave us quality innings in mid-relief and Malaya Johnson re-entered the game and secured the win.”
UCSB got the scoring started in the first inning when Giselle Mejia drove in Jazzy Santos on a groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
New Mexico State responded with two runs in the second and another in the third to take a 3-1 advantage.
However, the Gauchos erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to regain the lead at 9-3.
In that fourth-inning onslaught, Emily Carr and Mejia provided the biggest blows with a pair of two-run doubles. Meanwhile, UCSB tacked on four more runs on a pair of errors, a Bella Fuentes sacrifice fly and a bunt single from Erin Mendoza.
After a scoreless fifth, New Mexico State pushed a run across in the sixth to cut into the deficit and make it 9-4. The Gauchos rounded out their scoring in the top of the seventh on a Delaina Ma’ae sacrifice fly.
New Mexico State made a late comeback push with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but UCSB held on for its first win of the young season.