TUCSON, Ariz. – The UC Santa Barbara softball team came out of the second day of the Hillenbrand Invitational with a loss from Loyola Marymount 6-2. 

Both teams found no luck in the first inning, ending it with zero hits and zero runs. However, LMU struck once in the second inning and twice in the fourth, bringing the score to 3-0. 

The following two innings, the Gauchos closed the gap by holding LMU scoreless and putting up a run of their own. 

Sophomore infielder Nayah Pola singled to right field and advanced to second after freshman outfielder Lucy Mogan walked. Senior infielder Maci Fines then tallied an RBI after putting up a sacrifice fly that allowed Pola to cross the plate, bringing the score to 3-1. 

The top of the seventh inning saw three more runs from the Lions, leaving Santa Barbara needing six to win the game. 

After only one out in the seventh inning, Pola scored her first homer of the season and her UCSB career. Mogan then stepped up to the plate and recorded the first double of her freshman campaign. Unfortunately for the Gauchos, two outs followed these hits, ending the game. 

Next Up
Santa Barbara will play two more games in Arizona to finish off the Hillenbrand Invitational. Tomorrow the Gauchos face rematches against Kentucky (7-1) at 8:00 a.m. and LMU (4-6) at 10:00 a.m.