SAN JOSE, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2023) – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (7-5) completed the final day of the Silicon Valley Classic as they played one of the hosts, San Jose State, in a single game. After the seven innings of play, it was the Gauchos who came out victorious, defeating the Spartans 9-4. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara's bats were hot from the start of the game. Madelyn McNally scored the first run of the game off Chloe Stewart's single before Stewart and Daryn Siegel made it across home plate after Korie Thomas's triple. San Jose State was sure to get in two runs of their own, keeping them in this game through the first. However, the Gauchos added two more runs to the scoreboard in the second, giving them the 5-2 advantage.

No one was able to score again until the fifth inning, when both teams put up two runs apiece to put the score at 7-4. However, UC Santa Barbara added on two more runs in the top of the seventh to give them the 9-4 lead as San Jose State had one more opportunity to make a comeback. However, the Gauchos subdued the Spartans as UC Santa Barbara won the game 9-4.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Stewart added the most runs to the scoreboard today, securing three runs along with two RBIs. She registered two hits in that time, with one of those hits being a triple.
• McNally also had a strong day on the field, recording two runs on three hits. She also hit a triple during today while only being walked once. To top off her time at the Silicon Valley Classic, she assisted on four defensive plays, the most on the team.
• Four other Gauchos contributed to the success on the scoreboard, and they were Siegel, Thomas, Alexa Sams and Ashley Donaldson as all four of these players came across home plate. In this game, Thomas had the most RBIs with three while Siegel, Sams, Sam Denehy and Bella Fuentes all tallied one as well. 

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will make their way to Riverside, California to compete in the Lancer Invite hosted by Cal Baptist. Over that weekend, the Gauchos will play five games against the hosts Cal Baptist, Wagner College and Howard University. First pitch will be at noon on Friday, March 3.