UCSB Softball split a doubleheader with UC Riverside on Saturday at Campus Diamond to begin Big West Conference play.

The Gauchos cruised to an 8-0 win in game one before falling 4-2 in the late afternoon game. The two sides will play the rubber match on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Game 1: UCSB 8, UCR 0

The Gauchos wasted no time asserting dominance in game one, securing a run-rule victory.

Makayla Newsome got UCSB started on the right note, holding the Highlanders scoreless in the top of the first. 

In the bottom half, Alexa Sams and Ainsley Waddell reached on singles to set the table for Bella Fuentes, who roped a three-run homer to center field to go up 3-0.

Riverside struggled to find momentum at the plate against Newsome, who tossed all six scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and striking out five.

The 3-0 score held for the majority of the game, but the Gauchos finally blew it open courtesy of a grand slam over the center field wall off the bat of Waddle to go up 7-0.

The final blow came in the sixth when Kaylin Garcia doubled to center field, driving in Erin Mendoza to make it 8-0 and clinch the run-rule win.

Game 2: UCR 4, UCSB 2

Written by Nick Mathey, UCSB Sports Information

UC Santa Barbara faced an early challenge in the first inning as UCR scored three runs. The Gaucho batters were unable to respond in the bottom half and were retired in order.

In the second inning, the Highlanders managed to extend their lead to 4-0 after a sacrifice fly. UC Santa Barbara’s offense showed signs of life as Fuentes walked and Giselle Mejia singled, but the inning ended with no runs scored.

The fourth inning marked a shift for UC Santa Barbara as Fuentes and Mejia set the stage with a single and double, respectively. 

Emily Carr capitalized with a single to left field that drove in both runners, cutting the deficit to 4-2. However, the team left one runner stranded.

Despite opportunities in the fifth inning, including a single by Sams and a fielding error that loaded the bases, the Gauchos couldn’t narrow the gap further.

The game concluded with a 4-2 score in favor of UCR, as UC Santa Barbara’s late rally attempts were thwarted.