TUCSON, Ariz. – The UC Santa Barbara softball team closed out the Hillenbrand Invitational tournament with losses to Kentucky 11-1 and LMU 9-2. 

The Gauchos finished 0-5 in the tournament, while their overall record moved to 2-8. 

UCSB vs. Kentucky 
For the second time this weekend, Kentucky jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, recording three runs, one of which was unearned. 

With three consecutive pop flies to start the bottom of the first, the top of the order for the Gauchos could not create any scoring chances against Kentucky pitcher Alexia Lacatena.

The Gauchos left two runners on in the second and third inning, but were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth. 

Junior catcher Teah Thies lined the ball out to right field, recording her first triple of the 2022 season. The Agoura Hills, Calif. native Tyler Goldstein then hit a single, allowing Thies to come across the plate bringing the score to 3-1. 

Kentucky, however, answered with a four-run top half in the fifth and sixth inning, leaving the score 11-1. 

Although Kentucky got the win, Santa Barbara recorded more hits, notching eight overall. In addition to the players mentioned above, Korie Thomas, Elicia Acosta, Nayah Pola, and Chloe Stewart contributed to the Gaucho hit total.

Pitcher Camyrn Snyder tossed a full five innings, allowing only five hits and striking out four before being relieved by Alyssa Molina. Molina then ended the game, giving up two hits and striking out one. 

UCSB vs. LMU
Similar to the first game of the day, the Gauchos' next opponent, LMU, jumped out to a lead after scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. 

Both teams were scoreless in the second, but UCSB got batters aboard in the third inning. Freshman Lucy Mogan singled through the left side and Stewart got a piece of the action, hitting a single but advancing all the way to third due to an error made by the Lions' right fielder. 

Despite having runners in scoring position, the inning ended before the Gauchos were able to make it home and they entered the fourth down 4-0.

In the top of the fourth, the Kentucky pitcher couldn't find the box and walked Rayna Cohen. Pinch hitter Elicia Acosta then nabbed a two-run homer, the first of her UCSB career, hitting it well over the right center wall. 

Unfortunately, the Gauchos were held scoreless for the following three innings, while the Lions scored three more runs. The game ended after the top of the seventh, with the final score 9-2. 

Next Up
UCSB will be back in action at Campus Diamond next weekend to host the Gaucho Classic. Santa Barbara will open the tournament with Idaho State on Thursday, February 24, at 11:00 a.m. and will compete through Sunday.