SAN DIEGO -It was a heartbreaker on Sunday, as the UC Santa Barbara Softball team surrendered another late and was unable to push that tying run across, coming up one run short of victory, losing to the No. 3 Stanford 3-2.
FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
"My main focus coming here, knowing the caliber of teams we were facing, was will this team fight," said Evans. "I thought we did a really good job of that and I feel encouraged knowing as we move through the season, that this experience is something we can't get any other way. Our kids fought hard."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ainsley Waddell held the Cardinal offense at bay for a majority of the game. Through 4.2 innings she kept Stanford off the scoreboard. After the Gauchos got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, pushing two runs across on a Waddell single and an Elicia Acosta groundout, Stanford tied the game and then took a 3-2 advantage.
Once the Cardinal gained the lead they would put ace pitcher and 2023 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team selection, NiJaree Canady in the circle to close the game for the final two innings.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
- Madelyn McNally extended her hitting streak to eight games with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate.
- Chloe Stewart entered the game as a pinch runner and stole a base on the second pitch thrown.
- Waddell recorded her second multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 performance of the plate. She also drove in one of the two Gaucho runs.
UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara continues their non-conference slate with a trip to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in the UNLV Desert Classic. The Gauchos will kickoff the tournament against Bradley and Iowa State on Friday, Feb. 16. First pitch of day one for the Gauchos will be at 10 a.m.
