SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— No. 17 UCSB Baseball kicked off the 2022 season with a 5-2 road win over host San Francisco on Opening Day. Late inning heroics and strong pitching gave the Gauchos as they rolled to a 1-0 start. 

On the Stat Sheet

• The Gauchos outhit the Dons 8-5 and tallied three extra-base hits.
• Sophomore Jordan Sprinkle and senior Jason Willow each went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sprinkle added a double and Willow grabbed a triple.
• Sophomore Nick Vogt led all players with two RBI
• On the mound to start the season for the Gauchos was sophomore Cory Lewis who threw 4.1 solid innings allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out 10 batters.
• Picking up the win for the Gauchos was sophomore Mike Gutierrez who was brilliant in his Gaucho debut throwing 4.1 shutout innings and allowing just one hit while fanning five.

How It Happened

• UCSB wasted no time getting on the board recording its first run before even suffering t first out. Sprinkle did what he does best taking the second pitch he saw to center field for a single and promptly stealing second. Vogt then reached on an error by the Dons' first baseman which allowed Sprinkle to come in for the early lead.
• The only runs of the game for USF came on solo home runs in the bottom of the 2^nd and 5^th to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
• The Dons were just six outs away when sophomore Leo Mosby pinch-hit in the top of the 8^th and drew a four-pitch walk. Next up was another pinch-hitter in freshman LeTrey McCollum who picked his first collegiate hit placing a ball into right field. Then came senior catcher Gianni Bloom who roped a double down the left line to score the lead runner and tie the game. Once again it was Vogt coming up to the plate with just one out and he made the most of the opportunity collecting a 2 RBI single to give his team a 4-2 lead.
• Willow's triple came in the top of the 9^th and Steele Ledford made sure it cashed in bunting him home on a sacrifice for the insurance run.

Next Up
The Gauchos and Dons will go again tomorrow at 1 PM with Ryan Harvey set to face USF's lefty Weston Lombard. UCSB will look for the series win at Bennedetti Diamond.