SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—No. 19 UCSB Baseball (22-8, 11-2) won its fourth straight game Thursday night topping UC San Diego (12-20, 4-6) at home 10-6.

On the Stat Sheet

• Broc Mortensen went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and three RBI.
• Blake Klassen tripled and John Newman Jr. doubled as each added a pair of hits as well, and Bryce Willits went for a double and three RBI.
• Cory Lewis earned the start but wouldn't factor into the decision tossing four innings of four-run ball. Michael Rice (5-0) was the pitcher of record with 3.1 strong innings where he allowed just two runs while striking out three in his fifth win of the season.

How It Happened

• The Tritons were the first team to scratch in the series with a two-run homer in the top of the third but the Gauchos hung a three-spot in the fourth to take their first lead. Kyle Johnson led off with a walk, Broc Mortensen joined him on the paths with an HBP, and a single by Newman Jr. loaded the bases. With one out Zander Darby poked a single through the left side to score two and Jordan Sprinkle gave UCSB the lead with an RBI sac-fly.
• That lead lasted just few outs as UCSD earned another pair of runs in the top of the 5^th to go up 4-3, but the Gauchos were quick to respond with a four-spot in the bottom half.  Once again they loaded the bases, this time with no outs, and in stepped Nick Vogt who tied the game with an RBI single.  Next was Mortensen who crushed his ninth home run of the season, a three-run no-doubter that sailed over the right field wall to give UCSB a 7-4 lead.

WHERE DID IT LAND⁉️ Mortenson with a MONSTER blast to right to break this tie and give the Chos a 3 run lead ����

B5 | Gauchos 7 - Tritons 4#GoChos pic.twitter.com/kszd1to6ho

— UCSB Baseball (@UCSB_Baseball) April 15, 2022

• Blake Klassen led off the bottom of the sixth with a stand-up triple and was brought home on a Bryce Willits RBI groundout to make it 8-4.
• UCSD scored two more in the top of the eighth, but the damage was limited as Matt Ager stranded two Tritons aboard.
• Insurance came in the bottom half as Sprinkle drew a lead-off walk and reached third on a great hit-and-run call paired with a Klassen single. Willits was next ripping a double down the right line to score both runners and extend the Gaucho lead to 10-6.

A MISSILE down the right field line by Willits drives in two Chos to widen the margin ��

B8 | Gauchos 10 - Tritons 6#GoChos pic.twitter.com/HlrMsEhhmh

— UCSB Baseball (@UCSB_Baseball) April 15, 2022

Next Up
The Gauchos will look for their fifth straight win and fifth straight series win tomorrow night as they host UCSD in game two at 5:30 PM.