SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara softball team picked up its first win hosting the South Coast Invitational on Friday at Campus Diamond, defeating the Wagner Seahawks 11-4 while recording a season-high 16 hits. 

Entering the day, UCSB (4-14) didn't have a game with multiple three-hit performances. Against the Seahawks (2-10), five Gauchos finished with three hits – Maci Fines, Tyler Goldstein, Rayna Cohen, Korie Thomas and Chloe Stewart.

Santa Barbara's offense shined in the second and third, notching four runs in both innings. In the bottom of the second, Goldstein started things off for UCSB, hitting a double to right center. 

Pinch runner Lauren Lewis came in for Goldstein and scored the first run of the game after Cohen doubled down the left line. 

Sophomore Korie Thomas then hit a single to right center but was able to advance to second on the throw. With two Gauchos on base, Stewart roped a two RBI single and stole second on the next at bat.

Fines then stepped up to hit a double deep into center field and tallied two RBIs as Stewart and Thomas came across the plate, bringing the score to 4-0. 

In the bottom of the third, junior Teah Thies advanced to first base after getting hit by a pitch. Goldstein then registered her first home run of the 2022 season and moved the score to 6-0. 

Cohen bunted a single before Thomas put one out to left field. Again, two Gauchos were on base when Fines launched a two RBI single to center field and brought the score to 8-0. 

The Gauchos defense held the Seahawks scoreless for the first four innings. Pitcher Camryn Snyder was a huge piece of the puzzle for today's win, scattering only nine hits throughout six innings. 

The Seahawks (2-10) eventually got on the board in the fifth with a one-run homer from center fielder Bianca Worthy. They put up three more runs in the top of the sixth, cutting the Gaucho lead in half to 8-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, Teah Thies led off and hit a powerful grounder to the second baseman and made it to first. After the Seahawks threw a wild pitch, Thies advanced to second and Ally Nodohara walked. 

Rayna Cohen then shot one out to left field and notched an RBI from Thies. Thomas walked after the Wagner pitcher couldn't find the box, getting the bases loaded. 

Stewart came to bat and recorded a two RBI single to the left side, bringing Cohen and Nodohara home. 

The Gauchos entered the seventh needing to keep the lead in order to end the game early. Thomas' impressive defense ended the game with three consecutive outs, leaving the score at 11-4 for UCSB's largest win of the year.

Next Up
Santa Barbara will once again face off against Wagner tomorrow at 11:45a.m.