April 15, 2011

April 15, 2011

Complete Release in PDF Format

• The Schedule
Saturday, April 16, 2011 - 12 & 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 17, 2011 - 12 p.m. 
UC Santa Barbara (20-18, 4-2) vs. UC Riverside (9-22, 2-4)
All-time series record vs. Highlanders: 32-3
Last series vs. Highlanders: 1-2 (April 17-18, 2010)
Last series win vs. Highlanders: 2-1 (Mar. 28-29, 2009)

To watch games on Gametracker, click here.

• This Weekend In Gaucho Softball
Coming off a mid-week romp with non-conference opponent Cal State Bakersfield, UCSB will get back to the business of Big West play this weekend when it hosts UC Riverside for a three-game league set. The series starts with a noon doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with a noon game on Sunday.

• For The Record
UCSB has posted a 20-18 overall record and a 4-2 mark in Big West play. The Gauchos are currently tied for first in the conference with Pacific and Cal State Fullerton. UCSB is amidst a seven-game win streak, its longest of the season.

• Keilani Jennings Named Big West Player of the Week
Keilani Jennings' hot bat during the Gauchos' 5-0 week earned her Big West Player of the Week honors. The sophomore registered hits in four of UCSB's five games last week, including three multi-hit outings. She began the week with a hit, RBI and two walks in the sweep of South Dakota and topped that performance in the series with Cal Poly. Against the Mustangs, she hit .700 (7-for-10), collecting at least two hits in each game. She kicked things off with a 2-for-3, two RBI, two runs, two doubles effort in the opener, then added two more hits, three runs and a RBI in the middle game. Jennings closed out the week with a 3-for-4 showing in the series finale. She hit a homer, knocked in two runs, scored twice and doubled twice.

• Doubleheader With Fresno State Cancelled
The Gauchos' non-conference doubleheader at Fresno State, which was originally scheduled for April 22, has officially been cancelled. The two games had originally been postponed when a storm rendered the Bulldogs' field too wet to play on. The teams were unable to find an available date to reschedule the games.

• How Sweep It Is
UCSB's sweep of Cal Poly last weekend marked its first series win over the Mustangs since 2008 when it also swept the club in the friendly confines of Campus Diamond. Two weeks into league play, UCSB is the first team to sweep a 2011 Big West series.

• Giving Them The Runaround
The Gauchos' 27 runs during last weekend's series at Cal Poly were the most by the team in a Big West series sweep since 2003 when it scored 34 runs in a sweep of former league member Utah State. Additionally, the Gauchos scored 10+ runs against a conference foe in consecutive road games for the first time since that series with the Aggies.

• Born To Run
The 11-1 win at Bakersfield on Wednesday marked the Gauchos' sixth game this season in which they have scored 10+ runs. This is the most double-digit run games in program history, surpassing the 1982 team, which had four.

• Acting Defensive
The Gauchos have set themselves apart as one of the best defensive teams in the Big West and nationally. UCSB leads the league and is ranked 57th nationally with its .970 fielding. The Gauchos have committed a league-low 33 errors this season, which is a vast improvement after posting 66 in 2010.

• Two For One
Speaking of the UCSB defense, the Gauchos have already turned a league-leading 21 double plays this year - an average of .55 per game - which ranks fourth nationally among all Division I programs. It is likely that the Gauchos will surpass the school record for double plays, which was set last season at 23.

• Offensive Behavior
UCSB has one of the top offenses in the Big West Conference, ranking second with its .277 team batting average, .386 slugging, 173 runs, 280 hits, 156 RBI and 390 total bases. The Gauchos also lead the league with 54 doubles, just 10 shy of tying the school record, which was set in 2000.

• Shortstop Stories
Keilani Jennings has really hit her stride over the last two weeks and has strung together a five-game hit streak, marking her second longest of the season. She has had two or more hits in four of the last five games and has had at least one double in each of the last five games. Her 14 doubles on the season are just one shy of tying Tiffany Wright's single season record, which was set in 2008. Jennings is also ranked 30th nationally with an average of 0.33 doubles per game. The sophomore's four homers this year have brought her career count to 13, which ranks 10th in the UCSB record book.

• Catching Up With Our Catcher
Junior catcher Lainey DePompa is also streaking. The Sunland, Calif. native has had at least one hit in the last six consecutive games and in nine of the last 10. She is batting a career-best .287 and has a .500 average (8-for-16) in Big West games.

• Boser's Birthday Bash
Freshman Lauren Boser celebrated her 19th birthday with a huge day at the plate in Bakersfield. During the doubleheader against the Roadrunners, the first baseman went 4-for-7 with a double, five RBI and her first two collegiate home runs. The freshman has now put together 10 games with two or more hits and five with multiple RBI.

• Kane Is Able
Freshman McKenzie Kane leads the Gauchos in batting average (.333) and hits (45), which ranks second in the Big West. The center fielder has posted a team-high 12 multiple-hit games and has had a hit in all but eight games. Kane had a six-game hitting streak snapped in Wednesday's second game at Bakersfield, but that didn't stop her from scoring two runs, drawing a walk and stealing two bases in the 11-1 win.

• Popping Pilpils
Second baseman Kathryn Pilpil has the longest active hitting streak among the Gauchos after tallying hits in the last seven games. The freshman leads the team with her seven multiple RBI games and tied her career-high of three RBI in game one against Bakersfield when she hit her first career home run. Pilpil is second among the Gauchos in runs (23), doubles (7) and walks (19). She is also tied for first with 26 RBI.

• Brooke's Bat
Junior Brooke Putich currently ranks 20th nationally in triples after hitting her fourth of the season in game two against Cal Poly. The outfielder is third on the team with her .297 batting average and is tied for the team lead in stolen bases (10). Putich has had nine multiple-hit games this year and five multiple-RBI games. She also strung together a 10-game hit streak from Feb. 11 through Feb. 25, which is the longest by a Gaucho this season.

• In The Circle With Krista
Junior Krista Cobb is amidst a four game win streak - her longest of the season - and has had four great outings to open Big West play. The pitcher is currently 9-9 on the season with a 4.02 ERA, but has posted a 3-1 record in league play with a 1.06 ERA.

• Turning Up The AC
Pitcher Andriana Collins continues to impress in her first season with the Gauchos. The freshman has an 11-9 record and has won three straight. She is third in the Big West in innings pitched (132.2), wins (11), and second in starts (20). She holds a 3.69 ERA overall and a 3.50 ERA in conference games. Her .186 opposing batting average in league games paces all Big West pitchers.

• Super Senior
Senior Jessica Beristianos has brought her career RBI count to 86, which ranks seventh all-time on the UCSB career top-10 RBI list. Additionally, she now outright owns the No. 2 spot on the career doubles list with 38. She needs just four more to tie the school record set by Mandy Edwards (1997-2000).

 

• The Galicinao File
Head coach Brie Galicinao, who is now in her fourth season at the helm of the UCSB softball program, has coached the Gauchos to a 86-104 cumulative record for a .453 winning percentage, the second-best since the softball program went Division I in 1982. Galicinao has coached three players to All-Region honors, two players to Big West Field Player of the Year accolades, one Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year and 16 All-Big West Conference selections. In 2008, Galicinao was named the Big West Co-Coach of the Year after her first season leading the Gauchos.

• Gauchos.360
The Gaucho softball team has entered the blogsphere. Several members of the team are contributing regularly to "Gauchos.360" filling in UCSB fans on their student-athlete experience. To check it out visit click here.

• Tweet, Tweet
Head coach Brie Galicinao is on Twitter. To get her insights and updates throughout the season (and the rest of the year), follow her here.

• Get Your Tickets
Tickets for all of the Gauchos' home contests this season are now available. To purchase tickets, please call (805) 893-UCSB, visit the Ticket Office located inside the Intercollegiate Athletics building on campus or click here.