UCSB’s Broc Mortensen belted his eighth homer of the season to cut CSUN’s lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning, but the visiting Matadors responded with three runs in the seventh and beat the Gauchos, 7-3, to take the final game of the four-game Big West series at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on Sunday.
With the Gauchos trailing 4-0, Mortensen blasted a three-run homer over the right-field wall. He drove in Gianni Bloom and Jordan Sprinkle, who reached on singles.
That was the only damage the Gauchos could inflict on CSUN starter Blaine Traxel, who notched a complete-game win. He held UCSB to six hits. Christian Kirtley was the sole Gaucho to notch a multi-hit game going 2-for-4.
UCSB (21-9, 11-4) heads out on an eight-game road trip that begins Friday at UC San Diego.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.