Madelyn McNally’s walk-off hit gave the UCSB softball team a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Southern Utah Saturday, for a sweep of the three-game home series against the Thunderbirds.
The game-winner capped a 4-for-5 day for the junior from La Habra. McNally also scored a run.
After scoring the game’s first run, the Gauchos fell behind 4-1 by the end of the fifth inning before rallying to tie the score with a three-run sixth.
In the bottom of the seventh, Alexa Sams and Makayla Newsom made key plays to get Bella Fuentes to third base as McNally was up to bat with two outs.
McNally then placed the ball perfectly in the outfield for Fuentes to score the game-winning run.
UCSB freshman starter Malaya Johnson went the distance to secure her first career win.
UCSB’s 5-2 start is the team’s best since the 2017-18 season.
Next weekend the Gauchos head to Santa Clara University to play in the three-day Silicon Valley Invitational starting Friday, February 24. They will face Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, San Jose State and the host team Santa Clara.