TUCSON, Ariz. – The first day of the Hillenbrand Invitational yielded a pair of losses for the UC Santa Barbara softball team, which dropped its early morning game 23-0 to No. 16 Kentucky before falling 11-1 against No. 9 Arizona on Friday afternoon at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. 

UCSB vs. Kentucky
In the first game of the day, UCSB (2-5) went up against a Kentucky (6-1) team that has gotten out to a hot start in 2022. Wildcat pitcher Stephanie Schoonover held Santa Barbara with zero hits, giving up walks to junior outfielder Tyler Goldstein and freshman utility player Elicia Acosta. The game was called in the fifth with the final score 23-0. 

Pitchers Alyssa Molina and Ava Bradford accounted for UCSB's two strikeouts in the game. 

UCSB vs. Arizona
The second game of the tournament featured the Gauchos squaring off against Arizona (5-1). UCSB was held hitless until the third inning, when junior outfielder Tyler Goldstein singled through the left side, giving the Gauchos one of their three hits in the game.

The second hit came in the top of the fourth inning when senior first baseman Rayna Cohen registered a hit into center field, tallying her first double of the season. Acosta then got hit by a pitch, advancing her to first base.

Sophomore infielder Hannah Damore reached first on a fielding error by Kentucky's shortstop, which also allowed Cohen to score, giving the Gauchos their first run of the day and bringing the score to 7-1. That was Santa Barbara's only run of the game, which came to a close in the sixth inning. 

Next Up
The Gauchos continue tournament action tomorrow with a game at 9:00 a.m. against Loyola Marymount (3-5).