Box Score IRVINE, Calif.— The 10th-ranked Gauchos (33-11, 21-3) won their eighth-straight Big West series Sunday afternoon with a 17-7 win over UC Irvine. UCSB posted a seven-run first inning and continuously executed on defense to limit the Anteater bats in the rubber match.
On the Stat Sheet
- Ryan Gallagher (5-0) earned the start and the win tossing 5.1 innings of two run ball with three strikeouts. As good as he was, the freshman did allow 10 hits and a walk so much of the credit must go to the seven Gauchos behind him who ultimately helped the staff strand 12 UCI baserunners and turn three double-plays.
- On the offensive end UCSB tallied 14 hits and nine walks while posting a 1.127 OPS. All but two starters collected hits, five Gauchos saw multi-RBI efforts, and five saw multi-hit efforts.
- Bryce Willits continued a great weekend going 3-for-5 with a triple, a walk, and two RBI to extend his on base streak to 30 straight games.
- Christian Kirtley homered for the second-straight game and extended his on base streak to 32 straight games by going 2-for-4 with the long ball, a walk, and a team-best four RBI.
- Broc Mortensen had a good day earning the start in right field and going 2-for-4 with a walk, three RBI, two runs, and his 11th home run of the season which now leads the Big West.
- Nick Vogt extended his team-best hit streak to 18-straight games picking up a single.
How It Happened
- The biggest half inning of the weekend came in the top of the first for the Gauchos who immediately put a stranglehold on the rubber match. Seven runs scored on five hits, two HBPs and a walk.
- The first run came with the bases-loaded and one out as Nick Oakley got plunked, and Jason Willow brought in the second run on a four-pitch walk. Then it was Mortensen slapping a single into right field to score a pair and Sprinkle collecting an RBI single to make it a 5-0 game.
- Willits then brought in the next two taking the first pitch he saw deep to left-center that landed for a two-RBI triple and gave UCSB the 7-0 lead.
- As Gallagher and the Gaucho defense continued to blank the 'Eaters, the lead continued to grow on the offensive end with UCSB scoring in the third, fourth, and fifth to make it an even dozen at 12-0. Mortensen went yard as the leadoff man in the third and Kirtley crushed his three-run bomb an inning later.
- UC Irvine finally scratched in the sixth scoring a pair and added four more in the seventh and its final run of the weekend in the eighth to keep the game competitive at 13-7.
- Ryan Harvey would enter in the eighth to get the final six outs facing the minimum and it didn't hurt that the Gauchos posted a four-spot in the top of the ninth to make the final score 17-7.
Next Up
UCSB now returns to Caesar Uyesaka for an eight-game homestand that begins with five-straight non-conference contests. The first matchup will take place this Tuesday as the Gauchos face Saint Mary's at 5:30 PM.
