NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (May 13, 2023) - The UC Santa Barbara softball team (26-22, 13-14 Big West) dropped their final game of the season to CSUN in an eight-inning battle concluding in a walk-off grand slam. 

The Gauchos jumped on the Matadors early plating two runs in the top of the first inning. Madelyn McNally opened up the Gaucho half of the first with a single to center field. Sam Denehy then laid down a bunt and her speed got to the CSUN defense. An errant throw by the third baseman led to a two-base error and scored McNally for a quick run. With Denehy on third Ashley Donaldson lifted a fly ball to left field bringing in Denehy. 

The Matadors got a run back in the first to cut into the Gaucho lead, but it wouldn't take long for Santa Barbara to extend their lead. In the second Jazzy Santos got aboard after being hit by a pitch. Hannah Damore's sac bunt moved Santos into scoring position and freshman Makayla Newsom delivered in the ensuing at bat. 

Newsom doubled to left-center field and McNally followed that up with a single to left center, driving in Newsom. McNally would then come around to score on a Donaldson single and the Gauchos would lead 5-1 after two innings. 

CSUN got back in the game in the bottom of the third scoring four runs on two hits and taking advantage of a Gaucho error in the inning. 

With the game knotted at five the contest went to a pitcher's duel. Over the next four frames, neither team would plate a run pushing the game to extra innings. 

UC Santa Barbara could not find the hit they were looking for in the seventh or eighth inning and left runners stranded in scoring position. In the bottom of the eighth CSUN would end up loading the bases with one out. The cleanup hitter for the Matadors came to the plate and hit a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall to lift CSUN over the Gauchos. 

IN CONCLUSION
The loss concludes the season for the Gauchos. Santa Barbara finished the season with 11 more wins than a season ago, their first season with over 20 wins since 2017, and also their first overall winning season since 2017.