Ainsley Waddell and Malaya Johnson combined on a shutout, and Ella Myers hit a solo homer to pace the offense as UC Santa Barbara beat UC Davis, 3-0, to salvage a game in the three-game Big West softball series on Sunday in Davis.
Waddell kept the UC Davis offense at bay through the first four innings. She allowed four hits and struck out three and left the game with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a solo homer to center field by Myers.
Johnson finished out the game and earned her first save of the season. She gave up three hits, struck out six and did not walk any batters.
The Gauchos added to their lead in the sixth. Tehya Banks reached base on a throwing error and advanced to second. A sacrifice bunt by Emily Carr moved Banks to third and Myers drove her home with a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.
In the seventh, a Dani Rauscher sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Kaylin Garcia for the third run.
UCSB stands in third place with a record of 17-7. The Gauchos are one game behind Hawai’i (18-6) going into the final week of the conference season.
UCSB (27-22 overall) closes out regular conference play at home against first-place Cal State Fullerton (22-2). The teams meet for a doubleheader on Friday, May 1, and conclude the series on Saturday, May 2, with a single game.
