UCSB’s bullpen struggled in the eighth inning as Fresno State erupted for seven runs to break a 2-2 tie en route to handing the Gauchos a 9-3 non-conference baseball loss on Saturday in Fresno.
Carter Benbrook, who had relieved starter Matt Ager with one out in the sixth, had retired six Bulldogs in a row, including the first out of the eighth inning. But he then gave up a pair of one-out singles and was replaced by Sam Whiting.
Whiting got the second out, but then walked the next two batters and hit another, forcing across two runs. Nick Welch stepped in and issued a walk, before Ben Newton of the Bulldogs belted a grand slam for a 9-2 lead.
UCSB’s Christian Kirtley hammered a Victor Arreola breaking ball, launching it 450-some feet over the scoreboard in left field with one out in the ninth.
Jared Sundstrom doubled on the very next pitch, but Arreola got the final two outs to end the game.
Ivan Brethowr crushed a lead-off home run to start the game for the Gauchos. He left the game was an apparent injury.
Fresno State lead-off batter Grady Morgan homered off Ager to tie the score and the next three Bulldogs drew walks. A sacrifice fly by Triston Gray drove in the go-ahead run.
Ager settled down and held Fresno State scoreless for the next 4.1 innings. The sophomore righty struck out six and gave up two runs on three hits and four walks.
The Gauchos tied the score in the fourth. Jonah Sebring used his speed to break up a potential an inning-ending double play and then stole second and third. The catcher’s throw down to the third baseman got away, allowing Sebring to scamper home.
Fresno State pitchers Ivan Hernandez and Arreola allowed UCSB only five hits.
UCSB is now 17-5 on the season while Fresno State improves to 14-10.