LONG BEACH — UCSB baseball team dropped the rubber game in its weekend at Long Beach State on Sunday, falling 7-3 and remaining a game behind Big West leader Cal State Fullerton.
The Gauchos are tied for second with UC San Diego, which swept Fullerton over the weekend, winning Sunday 4-1. UCSB is now 16-8 in conference play, and UCD is 18-9, both with a .677 win percentage. Fullerton is 17-7 in the Big West.
On Sunday, the Gauchos opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Broc Mortensen was hit by a pitch and Ivan Brethowr walked before Zander Darby hit an RBI single. John Newman Jr. then singled to put UCSB up 2-0.
The Gauchos didn’t score again until the eighth inning, with an RBI single by Justin Trimble made the game 7-3, the final score.
However, UCSB loaded the bases in the fourth inning, with one out, and the ninth inning, with two outs. Both times, the Gauchos couldn’t get a run across. For the game, the Gauchos were 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 baserunners on base.
After using just four pitchers over the first two games of the series, UCSB used five in the series finale.
Darby recorded his 16th multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-4 on the afternoon.
The Gauchos will have a quick turnaround as they host California Baptist on Monday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live stats available through ucsbgauchos.com.