HONOLULU, Hawaii – In its first road game of Big West play, the UC Santa Barbara softball team was defeated Friday night at Hawaii, 4-1.
The Gauchos (7-31, 1-6) did something they haven't done a lot this year, as they lost a lead for just the fourth time. UCSB now owns a 6-4 record in games where it has scored first. The Rainbow Wahine meanwhile improve to 25-10 overall, 6-1 in conference.
Sophomore outfielder Sammy Fabian's lone hit of the game – a single up the middle in the top of the third – would put the Gauchos on top early. Junior Kayla Krantz, who had similarly singled up the middle to open the inning, scored to put UCSB up 1-0.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Hawaii would pull away in the bottom of the fifth, where it scored all four of its runs. Heather Cameron tied the game at 1-1, scoring on a fielder's choice to shortstop by Nicole Lopez.
Reigning Big West Player of the Week Callee Heen's three-run homer later in the inning broke the 1-1 deadlock and put UH up for good.
Six different Gauchos tallied one hit, as UCSB matched Hawaii 6-6. Freshman Tyler Goldstein recorded her fourth double of the season in the top of the fifth, tying Fabian and Rayna Cohen for the team-lead. The Rainbow Wahine recorded the game's only error in the fifth inning.
The series will resume tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 5:00 p.m. (PT) at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
