A late UCSB rally fell short in a 7-6 softball loss to Sacramento State at the Silicon Valley Invitational at Santa Clara on Friday.
The Gauchos later lost to host Santa Clara, 9-4.
The Gauchos trailed 7-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning against Sacramento State. They scored two runs on a one-out pinch-hit single by Malaya Johnson. Alexa Sams followed with a single, with pinch-runner Sam Denehy advancing to third. Madelyn McNally brought home Denehy on a ground out to second base to make it a 7-5 game.
Ashley Donaldson doubled to start the seventh, and Camryn Sullivan pinch ran for her. Sullivan tagged and advanced to third on a foul out caught by the second baseman. She scored on Hannah Damore’s ground out to second to pull the Gauchos within one.
Sacramento pitcher Marissa Bertuccio induced Chloe Stewart to hit back to the box to end the game.
Donaldson had two hits for the Gauchos.
Daryn Siegel hit two doubles and Stewart had two RBIs against Santa Clara.
The Broncos scored three runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tied in the fifth.
UCSB got a run back in the top of the sixth, but Santa Clara responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Johnson took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks in 4.2 innings. Ilona Sullivan gave up three runs in 1.1 innings.
UCSB (5-4) continues tournament play with two games on Saturday.
Women’s Water Polo
UCSB lost to third-ranked UCLA, 14-4, at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational on Friday at UC Irvine’s Anteater Aquatics Complex.
It was the Gauchos’ second loss to UCLA, which dropped their record to 11-4 on the season.
UCSB continues play in the tournament Saturday and Sunday.