UC Santa Barbara baseball clinched the series win over the UC Davis Aggies with an 8-2 victory at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Sunday.
Behind a dominant start from Jackson Flora and an offense that chipped away inning by inning, the Gauchos (20-10, 7-8 Big West) came out on top with 14 hits, all singles.
Making his return to the starting rotation, Flora was in command. He threw seven innings of one-run ball—an unearned run at that—and struck out five without walking a batter after the first inning.
On offense, UCSB found holes in the defense as six different Gauchos recorded multi-hit games. Xavier Esquer led the way with four RBIs.
“We got a really good start out of Jackson Flora, he was outstanding for us today. That set the tone,” UCSB head coach Andrew Checketts said. “I think we did enough offensively. We kept grinding at the plate and a lot of guys stepped up. Rowan Kelly made a fantastic play late that really shifted the momentum.
“All in all, a great effort, especially after Friday’s loss, but it was a nice response from the guys.”
The day didn’t start perfectly for the Gauchos. Flora walked the first batter, Tyler Howard, who ended up scoring on a dropped fly ball after stealing second and then advancing to third on a groundout.
However, the sophomore right-hander quickly locked in, retiring the side in order in the second and keeping the Aggies quiet from there.
Santa Barbara’s offense started knocking at the door in the third by loading the bases with two outs, but couldn’t capitalize just yet.
That changed in the fourth. With the bases loaded again—this time with nobody out—Esquer came through with a two-run single up the middle to give the Gauchos the 2-0 lead.
Mendez added to it with a clutch two-run single later in the inning, making it 4-1.
The Gauchos added to their lead in the fifth. Liam Barrett and Kelly each singled to set the table, and Corey Nuñez brought home one with a single to right.
Esquer added another RBI with a sacrifice fly, stretching the lead to 6–1.
Flora continued to cruise, facing the minimum in the sixth thanks to a slick double play and wrapping up his outing with a scoreless seventh.
UCSB added some insurance in the seventh. Reiss Calvin got hit by a pitch and stole second, then Kelly followed with a single and stolen base of his own. Nuñez and Esquer brought both runners home, making it 8–1.
The Aggies showed signs of life in the eighth, knocking in a run on a pair of singles and a double, but Kelly made a highlight-reel catch as he leapt onto the warning track to keep the damage to one run.
In the ninth, the Aggies threatened again, putting two on with no outs. However, lefty Donovann Jackson came out of the bullpen and shut them down.
After a flyout, a gritty nine-pitch strikeout and a grounder right back to him, Jackson sealed the win and the series for the Gauchos.
UCSB will host the Pepperdine Waves on Tuesday at 4:45 at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. In their last meeting, the Gauchos dominated the Waves 13-2.