LOS ANGELES, Calif.— A break out game for freshman Michael Marsh combined with yet another solid outing from the Gaucho pitching staff lifted the UCSB baseball team (6-2) past host Loyola Marymount (3-6), Tuesday night. Marsh collected five RBI in the very same game where he would find his first career hit as the Gauchos defeated the Lions 7-2. This marked the first of four total meetings with LMU this season.

Freshman JD Callahan earned his first career start for the Gauchos and did not disappoint picking up his second career win. The young righty went six full innings allowing just one earned run and three hits, while striking out 4. He is now one of just five Big West pitchers to hold a 2-0 record in the early season.

UCSB got on the board early and often finding runs in four straight innings. The first two came across in the second inning when collected  Marsh collected his first career hit. The Gaucho left fielder connected on a two-out single to drive in two runs.

Santa Barbara made it 3-0 in the very next with sophomore designated hitter stepping to the plate with two outs and ripping his first home run of the year on a 3-1 count.

The 4th inning brought Marsh back up to the plate where he followed up his first career hit with his first career home run, a three-run bomb over the right field wall to put his team up 6-0. He would finish going 2-for-3 with five RBI, which is the most by any Gaucho this season.

An RBI triple from Marcos Castanon completed the scoring efforts for UCSB which has now scored six or more runs in five games this season. Castanon continues to lead the Gauchos with an outstanding .375 batting average on the year.

Three pitchers in Josh Candau, Carter Benbrook, and Conner Dand each came in to pitch exactly one inning of relief and together only allowed the Lions on base three times in the final three innings.

UCSB will test its hot start this weekend when the Gauchos welcome the University of Illinois, Chicago to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for a three game series. This will mark the first meeting between the Gauchos and the Flames.