A UCSB rally couldn’t overcome a 6-0 deficit and dropped an 8-5 decision against Fresno State on Saturday at Bob Bennett Stadium, the Gauchos’ second straight loss of the three-game non conference series.
The Bulldogs jumped on starter Tyler Bremner with a single and a double to start the game. Bremner got the next two batters to ground out, but Grady Morgan and Ben Newton scored on the plays for a 2-0 lead.
Fresno State used two singles and a pair of UCSB errors to score a run in the second inning and picked up another run in the third on a single by Triston “Murf” Gray.
Bremner was lifted after the fifth inning. Fresno State scored a run off Brady Huddleston and three against Michael Rice.
UCSB’s offense was stymied by Fresno State starter Jake Dixon, who had had a no-hitter through four innings. He went eight innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out nine and walking none. Zach Statzer pitched the ninth and allowed three runs on two hits.
Aaron Parker hit his first homer of the season against Dixon in the seventh inning to put UCSB on the board.
Gray answered for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning with a two-run blast to make it 8-1.
LeTrey McCollum singled in Jonah Sebring for UCSB in the eighth and John Newman Jr. hit a three-run homer in the ninth to complete the scoring.
UCSB is now 17-6 on the season and Fresno State 15-10.
The teams play the final game of the series Sunday.