The UC Santa Barbara softball team continued their hot streak by securing two more victories. The Gaucho pitching staff held the Mustangs to just one run over the two games and allowed just seven hits.
Game 1: UCSB 4, Cal Poly 1
UC Santa Barbara emerged victorious over the Mustangs with a final score of 4-1 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. In the first inning, Rauscher singled and later scored on a throwing error by the shortstop, giving UC Santa Barbara an early lead. The score was 1-0 after one inning.
The Mustangs equalized in the second inning when a pinch runner scored on a single to right center, tying the game at 1-1.
In the fourth inning, UC Santa Barbara regained the lead. Jaelyn Toledo doubled and advanced to third on an error. Bella Fuentes reached on the error, and Tehya Banks walked to bring in Toledo, making it 2-1 in favor of UC Santa Barbara.
The game remained tight through the middle innings, but Sophia Clark did not budge. After giving up a run in the second, she would sit down 12 of the next 13 batters that stepped to the plate for the Mustangs.
UC Santa Barbara extended its lead in the top of the seventh when Kaylin Garcia, pinch running, scored on Toledo’s single to right center. Daryn Siegel, pinch-hitting, singled to short, bringing in another run. The Gauchos held on in the bottom half of the inning to secure the 4-1 victory.
Sophia Clark earned the complete game, her fourth consecutive, in the victory, finishing with a final line of seven innings pitched, allowing just three hits and striking out two.
Game 2: UCSB 8, Cal Poly 0 (F/5)
UC Santa Barbara secured a decisive 8-0 victory over Cal Poly, highlighted by strong offensive performances and solid pitching by Malaya Johnson.
In the first inning, UC Santa Barbara took an early lead after from Emily Carr hit a grand slam to left field, scoring Tehya Banks, Giselle Mejia, and Ainsley Waddell. The inning concluded with a 4-0 lead for the Gauchos.
Mejia doubled to left field in the third inning, setting the stage for Waddell’s RBI single that brought Mejia home, extending the lead to 5-0.
In the fourth inning, Carr continued to impact the game with a two-RBI single, scoring Dani Rauscher and Banks, further securing the Gauchos’ lead at 7-0.
The fifth inning saw Jazzy Santos score on a wild pitch, marking the final run of the game for the Gauchos.
Malaya Johnson allowed just four hits across her five innings of work while not walking anyone and striking out one. Johnson set down nine of the first 10 batters en route to her first shutout of the season and her fifth complete game.
UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly will conclude their series tomorrow, Sunday, March 15. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available.