UCSB Softball fell to CSU Fullerton by a final score of 3-1 in the regular-season finale on Saturday at the Campus Diamond in Isla Vista. With the result, the Titans took the series.
However, this isn’t the end of Gaucho softball this spring. UCSB secured the No. 3 seed and will play against the No. 6 seed UC San Diego in the first round of the Big West Championships on Wednesday, May 6, at 4 p.m. at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton.
The Gauchos (28-24, 18-9 Big West) won the program’s first conference tournament title last season.
“We’re ready for next week, we have our past experience from last year to hang on to, and it really boosts us up,” UCSB head coach Jo Evans said. “It makes us feel confident knowing that we can make a run and get to the postseason.”
The Titans got on the scoreboard first with an Alexia Lopez solo home run in the top of the second inning to put them 1-0 ahead of the Gauchos.
UCSB came fighting back in the bottom of the second as junior left fielder Emily Carr sent a homer over the right-center field wall, evening the score to 1-1.
The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning when the Titans pulled ahead. An RBI double from Ava Arce of Fullerton sent two players in to score and take a 3-1 lead..
UCSB was unable to respond, as the Titans’ Eva Hurtado tossed two shutout innings tio close out the win. Sunday’s back-and-forth rubber match was a reflection of the weekend series they played this weekend.
“The two games yesterday could’ve gone either way, and I think that helps boost our confidence, knowing that we’re playing some of our best ball right now,” Evans said.
“I feel like we’re playing well right now and getting good pitching. Fullerton’s a good ball club, so I thought we competed very well in the series against them.”
The Gaucho trio of Malaya Johnson, Grace Luderer and Ainsley Waddell combined to hold a strong Fullerton team to just three earned runs.
The last game of the season was also UCSB’s Senior Day, where the program honored and celebrated the five graduating seniors on the team. Bella Fuentes, Jazzy Santos, Daryn Siegel, Ludere and Johnson were all celebrated for the last home game of their collegiate careers.
