STOCKTON, Calif. – In its final game of the year, UCSB was defeated by Pacific by a final score of 6-3 in the second round of the NISC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

A pair of freshmen led the way for the Gauchos as first baseman and All-Big West Second Team selection Alyssa Diaz tied a career-high with a 3-4 day at the plate. Third baseman Kayla Krantz added two hits and one RBI. UCSB finished with ten hits, making it two straight games in double-figures.

The Gauchos (31-28), who all season had made it a habit to snatch late wins after trailing early on, nearly completed one more comeback against the Tigers (28-25). After trailing 4-0 through five innings, Santa Barbara got hot in the bottom of the sixth, going off for five hits and scoring three runs to cut the lead to 4-3.

With the bases loaded, Krantz got UCSB on the scoreboard with a single down the left field line, scoring a run from junior Jessica Johnston. On the following play, Diaz would score off a single to left field by senior Stacy Cavazos, making it 4-2. Redshirt freshman Whitney Pemberton would then step up to knock a single to right field, this time bringing home sophomore Melanie Menor to bring the Gauchos within a single run.

Unfortunately for UCSB, the Tigers would have a well-timed answer. The regional hosts, playing as the away team on their own field, added two more runs in the top of the seventh, both on a two-run single by Molly Bourne.

After extending its lead to 6-3, Pacific would hold the Gauchos to a single hit in the bottom of the seventh, leaving two runners on base before picking up the third out. Both teams finished the game with one error.

Seven Gauchos recorded a hit on the day, including senior Kristen Clark, who ends her career with 296 hits, good for No. 1 all-time at UCSB and No. 2 in Big West history. Her .378 career batting average also tops the Gaucho record books, while her 136 runs and 64 stolen bases both rank second.

Also playing in their final games for the Gauchos were seniors Stacy Cavazos and Jacqueline Hinojosa. Cavazos ended the day with one hit and one RBI.