LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Fresh off its first conference win of the season, UCSB (20-18, 1-2) split its final non-conference road matches of the season on Monday at Loyola Marymount (14-22). The Gauchos defeated the Lions 7-1 in the first game of the day, earning their largest road win of the season and second-largest win overall this season. LMU would bounce back to win the day's second game, 6-2.

Game One

The Gauchos only scored in two innings in the first game of the doubleheader, but they were able to make those innings count, as they poured in at least three runs in both the second and fifth. After neither team was able to record a hit in the first inning, UCSB's offense would get hot with three hits in the top of the second.

After a double by sophomore Sierra Altmeyer, senior Emily Brucelas got UCSB on the board with a two-run homer to left field. Later in the inning, freshman Kayla Krantz would make it 3-0 off a single to right field by senior Jacqueline Hinojosa.

Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the fifth, when Altmeyer knocked another Gaucho home run to left field, this time scoring three runs. Senior Kristen Clark and junior Jessica Johnston preceded Altmeyer in her second trip around the bases of the game, giving the Gauchos a commanding 6-0 advantage. Redshirt freshman Whitney Pemberton would soon make it 7-0, scoring on an illegal pitch later in the inning.

LMU would finally scratch in the bottom of the seventh, tallying a single run with two outs on the board, but it was too little too late as UCSB picked up the final out on the next at bat. The Gauchos finished with nine hits to the Lions' four. Clark, Altmeyer and Brucelas all led the way with two hits each. UCSB was also errorless, compared to three errors for LMU.

Game Two

UCSB would take a lead for the second game in a row, as freshman Nicole Marino scored to make it 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning. However, LMU would answer with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take back the lead.

Brucelas notched another RBI in the top of the fifth, bringing Altmeyer home to make it 2-2. Once again, the Lions would have an answer, as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth on four hits to take a 6-2 lead.

The Gauchos ended the second game with eight hits, compared to ten for LMU. UCSB finished with two errors, while the Lions had none. Pemberton and Brucelas paced the Gauchos in hits, both going 2-4 at the plate.