A dramatic extra-inning battle at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium between UCSB and CSU Northridge on Friday came to an end when Matador reliever Hayden Hall was called for a balk with a runner on third base in the 13th inning, allowing Nate Vargas to trot home for the 4-3 victory in a Big West opener.
A few innings earlier, Jack Holman came through in the clutch for the Gauchos, delivering a game-tying RBI single in the ninth before the late-game blunder from CSUN.
The UCSB bullpen was lights-out in the final frames, with junior lefty Donovann Jackson securing the win after tossing the final two innings. With the win, the Gauchos extended their program-record Big West winning streak to 21 games.
UCSB came into the game ranked in the top 10 nationally in five pitching categories, and their depth on the mound proved pivotal on Friday.
The game opened with a pitching masterclass from righthander Tyler Bremner, whose ability to change speeds—ranging from 82 to 98 mph—kept the Matadors off balance.
Bremner, one of just seven qualified NCAA Div. 1 pitchers to not walk a single batter this season, reached a career milestone in the third inning with his 200th strikeout.
CSUN struck first in the top of the first, as Kyle Panganiban drove in Roberto Gonzales to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Gauchos responded in the bottom of the frame, tying the game 1-1 on an RBI single from Vargas to score Holman.
They then took a 2-1 advantage in the third when Xavier Esquer drove home Cole Kosciusko on a single to left field
After a scoreless fourth, CSUN regained the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs on a wild pitch and an Elijah Fairchild base hit to go up 3-2.
Both bullpens took over for the final stretch until the ninth inning, when Holman, a UCLA transfer, roped his game-tying knock through the right side of the infield.
From there, UCSB relievers Van Froling and Jackson took control as Froling tossed a perfect 10th inning and Jackson induced a flurry of swings and misses before the Gauchos walked it off in the 13th.
The Gauchos (11-2) and Matadors will face off again on Saturday at 3 p.m. as UCSB goes for the series victory.