Despite holding the lead for the first six innings, the UCSB softball team fell to Cal State Fullerton 5-3 on Friday afternoon at Campus Diamond.
The Gauchos scratched first in the first inning after capitalizing on a fielding error by the Titans’ second baseman. With two outs on the board, Santa Barbara was able to load the bases before Rayna Cohen was hit by a pitch, advancing Maci Fines home to bring the score to 1-0.
The UCSB defense left two Fullerton runners stranded in the top of the second, before a two-out single from Fines would bring the Gauchos another run.
Gaucho pitcher Lexy Mills went the distance, and held off the Titan offense for the first five innings, allowing nothing but a pair of hits in the top of the fourth.
With the bases loaded in the sixth and no outs, a Titan pinch hitter knocked the ball to Mills who threw it right back to catcher Teah Thies to get the lead runner out just before sending it to Rayna Cohen for the double play.
Unfortunately, the next Titan batter hit a would-be single that turned into a two RBI double after a throwing error by Fines landed the ball in the Gaucho dugout to give Fullerton the tying run.
The Gauchos’ third run of the game came in the sixth as pinch runner Lauren Lewis reached after Denehy singled up the left side, once again giving Santa Barbara the lead at 3-2.
When it looked like the Gauchos were about to finish things up, the Titans’ Jessi Alcala shot a two out homer to add three runs to conclude their scoring efforts, giving them the 5-3 lead.
Refusing to go down easily in the seventh, Teah Thies and Rayna Cohen were both able to reach base, but this would turn out to be the last of the Gaucho effort, leaving the final score at 5-3.
Ashley Donaldson went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Gauchos, moving her batting average up to .324. Cohen collected her 13th RBI of the season.
The Gauchos will conclude their series against Cal State Fullerton Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.