Box Score LONG BEACH, Calif.— No. 25 UC Santa Barbara baseball scored three runs in the top of the ninth Sunday night to force extra innings with host Long Beach State. A three-run bomb in the 12th from UCSB's Christian Kirtley would give the Gauchos an 8-5 win.
Down 1-0 in the fourth is when UCSB's Cole Cummings stepped to the plate and hit a lead off solo shot to tie up the game.
It wasn't until the bottom of the 6th inning that the Dirtbags were able to retaliate. Chase Luttrell and Connor Kokx responded with back-to-back singles, ending with Luttrell scoring on a wild pitch, bringing the game to 1-2. LBSU's lead didn't last long due to Christian Kirtley's clutch homer to left center with two outs already on the board. With Kirtley tying up the game at 2-2, it brought out Long Beach's competitive nature. In the bottom of the 8th, Connor Kokx follows Kirtley's previous at bat with a similar homerun deep in left field granting him 2 RBI's and bringing LBSU's lead to 2-4. Later in the 8th , the Beach were able to put on the pressure as Charlie Loust tripled to center field, and later scoring on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 2-5.
In true Santa Barbara fashion, the Gauchos did not let the bats rest, and they were able to bring the heat in the 9th. With two walks to start the inning, the real action came once Kyle Johnson stepped up for the 'Chos. Johnson flied out, allowing Kirtley to score after being walked. This was the spark that caught the Gaucho batters on fire as Jason Willow immediately followed with a single through the left side, bringing in Bryce Willis to score. Repeating Willis, Jordan Sprinkle followed suit by singling to left field, giving John Newman Jr. an opportunity to score. After the electric 9th inning, LBSU was not able to retaliate, forcing the game into extra innings.
The extra innings were quiet until we hit the top of the 12th. Broc Mortenson took one to the body granting him a base. Zach Rodriguez singled through the right side, advancing Mortensen to third. Christian Kirtley comes to the plate, launching the ball to left field. Kirtley tallies three more RBI's and brings the game to 8-5. The Dirtbags had no answer in the bottom of the 12th, bringing the UCSB Gauchos to 26-12 and 17-7 in conference play.
You can catch the Gauchos back at home next weekend for the Blue-Green Rivalry against Cal Poly. The series begins Friday the 30th at 5:00, the first at one and four, and ending the series Sunday at 1:00.
