Another Pitching Gem Extends UCSB’s Baseball Winning Streak To 11 Games

Coach Andrew Checketts took a political approach to UC Santa Barbara’s series-opening baseball game against Cal State Northridge on Friday:

He went the way the wind was blowing.

The 10th-ranked Gauchos resorted to small ball to lengthen their baseball winning streak to 11 games in a 4-1 victory at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.

UCSB (16-3, 4-0 Big West Conference) won again despite failing to hit a home run for the first time in the last seven games. The Gauchos, who lead the Big West with 27 homers, have cleared the fence in all but three of their 16 victories this season.

“We talked to the guys about how we want to be well-rounded and have the ability to score in multiple ways when the homers aren’t happening,” Checketts said. “They weren’t happening today with the way the wind was blowing in.

“We got two really good bunts … two stolen bases … a good read (to score) on a chopper to third base … They did a really nice job with the short game, hitting with two strikes and manufacturing some runs.”

Nick Oakley and LeTrey McCollum both went 3-for-4 to lead the Gauchos’ eight-hit attack.

“They both did a nice job with some two-strike hitting,” Checketts pointed out.

He found himself matching wits with a former assistant coach. First-year CSUN head coach Eddie Cornejo served on Checketts’ staff for several years which included UCSB’s College World Series season of 2016.

The Matadors (12-5, 2-2 Big West) will get two more shots at the Gauchos in games today at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

“Eddie has done a nice job with his team over there,” Checketts said. “They’re well-coached and they’ve got some good arms. Their guys take competitive at-bats. They play good defense. They’re good.

“It did feel like an intersquad, (my) calling pitches and (his) running the other team’s offense.”

CSUN pitchers Lucas Braun and Hayden Cody gave up only one earned run between them.

That was also true of the Gaucho triumvirate of starter Michael Gutierrez and relievers Nick Welch and Hudson Barrett.

Gutierrez allowed only three hits while striking out six Matadors in four innings. Checketts replaced him with Welch in the fifth, however, after the left-handed ace reported “soreness” in his left pitching arm.

“We’re hoping it’s nothing,” Checketts said. “He said he had some (arm) fatigue, so we got him out.”

Welch got his first pitching win in relief. Barrett earned his fourth save while allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts over the final four innings. The freshman lefthander reduced his earned run average to just 0.93.

UCSB’s team ERA, which ranked fifth nationally at 2.64 before Friday’s game, dropped further to 2.55 by game’s end.

“The pitching has been pretty consistent, so it gives you a chance,” Checketts said. “We’ve had a quality start in nine of those 11 (consecutive wins), or close to that. And the bullpen has been good.

“The defense has been good, too. Corey Nunez’s fielding at shortstop has been spectacular. He made two really good plays tonight look easy … He’s been sure-handed and he has some amazing instincts over there.”

Jonah Sebring, who’s batting a team-high .359 this season, triggered UCSB’s two-run second inning when the Matadors’ third baseman couldn’t handle his ground ball to lead off the second inning. He stole second base and scored when McCollum lined a single to centerfield.

McCollum, who moved to second on a passed ball, scored when Oakley rapped a single off the first baseman’s glove.

CSUN’s Kevin Fitzer cut the Gaucho lead in half by hitting a solo home run over the left-field fence to lead off the fourth inning. The wind snagged a similar drive to left off the bat of UCSB’s Jared Sundstrom for the first out in the bottom of the fifth.

“I think he hit that one pretty good and it got knocked down,” Checketts said. “Their guy hit one through the wind.”

The Matadors did no further damage, with Gutierrez ending that inning with a strikeout. That 77th pitch, however, was also his last.

Nick Welch escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the fifth, but struggled to throw strikes in the sixth. He hit Fitzer with a pitch and then walked Ali Camarillo with no outs. His two walks on Friday were his first of the season in 9 1/3 innings.

“His first inning he was fine,” Checketts said. “Once he hit that guy, I think he lost it, trying not to lose.”

Barrett immediately snuffed out the rally. He also pitched out of a base-loaded jam in the sixth and got an inning-ending strikeout with two runners aboard in the eighth.

“He’s got some toughness,” Checketts said. “He’s handled those big spots well. He’s made a lot of clutch pitches so far this year.”

CSUN’s Braun pitched out his own bases-loaded jam in the fifth. Oakley helped end his day in the seventh, however.

The Gaucho second baseman rapped a hit between the Matadors’ right and centerfielders and didn’t stop running until he’d slid safely into second base.

“It was a good hustle double there,” Checketts said. “He got off some good swings, too … He had a two-strike hit, and was thinking two all the way, right out of the box.

“It was good team offense there.”

Oakley took third on a sacrifice bunt by Nunez and scored when Ivan Brethowr beat out an infield single down the third-base line.

UCSB scored its final run in the eighth after a walk to Christian Kirtley, a single to left by Jonah Sebring, and a throwing error on McCollum’s bunt single.

The Matadors also threatened in the eighth with a single and a walk. Barrett ended the inning, however, with a strikeout. He also struck out the side in the ninth after a lead-off walk.

“We’ve been a little up and down offensively, but the potential is there,” Checketts said, “and the pitching gives us a little bit of time to figure it all out.”