LAS VEGAS, Nev – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team will head into week two searching for their first win of the 2024 season this weekend. The Gauchos will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the UNLV Desert Classic with games against Bradley University, Iowa State, and UNLV.
A LOOK BACK AT 2023
UC Santa Barbara looks to build off their 2023 campaign that saw the Gauchos go 26-22 overall and 13-14 in Big West play. The 26 wins was the most for a Gaucho team since 2017 when the Gauchos won 31 games. Despite a sixth-place finish in conference, the Gauchos led The Big West in batting average, hits, triples, walks and on-base percentage. This year they were voted to finish fourth in The Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll.
SERIES HISTORIES
BRADLEY: The Gauchos and Braves have met five times previously with UC Santa Barbara winning three matches and Bradley winning two. The most recent match up was in 2020, in which Gaucho's earned the win in the Gaucho Classic. Santa Barbara won a doubleheader matchup by way of the run-rule in the two contests.
IOWA STATE: Iowa has proven to be tough competition as the school has taken five wins over six games against Santa Barbara. The teams last battled it out in St. George, Utah with the Gauchos taking home a win in the 2017 George Red Desert Classic.
UNLV: The Gauchos and Aztecs have not squared off since the 2015 season when UNLV swept the Gauchos in the Rebel Classic 6-3. The last time they competed at home, UC Santa beat the Rebels 1-0 in 2012.
SENIORS LOOK TO LEAVE THEIR MARK
The Gauchos return a total of 13 players from a season ago, highlighted by seniors Madelyn McNally, Ashley Donaldson and Camryn Snyder. As it stands right now McNally and Donaldson both rank in the top 10 in program history for batting average. Coming into the season McNally has hit .395 over three seasons while Donaldson sits at .316 across her three seasons. McNally also ranks third in program history in career triples.
The duo ranked in the top five of The Big West last season in batting average, OPS, hits, triples, total bases and slugging percentage. After their impressive 2023 season, both athletes went on to be named First Team All-Big West, with McNally ending her season as a First Team All-Pacific Region selection. To start this season, McNally and Donaldson were named to The Big West Preseason Coaches Team.
The Gauchos' top starting pitcher, Camryn Snyder, is back after leading the team in ERA, WHIP, wins, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts. She also ranked in the top five of The Big West in innings pitched, wins and saves
NEW FACES
The Gauchos welcome nine newcomers to the 2024 squad, seven freshmen and two transfers both coming from a Power Five conference. All seven freshmen hail from California and competed well in the fall giving Santa Barbara great depth and all will battle for starting positions. The Gauchos will also be deeper on the mound and at least three freshmen pitchers will see solid playing time this season. The class is highlighted by freshman left-handed pitcher and hitter Ainsley Waddell.
During the Gauchos opening weekend in San Diego, Tehya Banks, Katie Terrazas, Emily Carr, Sam Stoll and Emily McCoskey all played a key part in the Gauchos weekend. Despite an 0-5 start all the freshmen competed at a high-level against high-caliber competition.
The two transfers, Erin Mendoza and Alana Snow come from Oregon State and Texas A&M respectively. Both will add great experience to a young outfield unit. They also have experience in the NCAA postseason as Mendoza and Oregon State made it to the Women's College World Series in 2022 while Snow was a member of the National Championship team at UCLA in 2019 and World Series appearance in 2021 before transferring to Texas A&M.
FOLLOW ALONG
The Gauchos will travel to Las Vegas this weekend to compete against Bradley University with the first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m. UC Santa Barbara will also play Iowa State (twice) and UNLV (twice). For those unable to attend in person the games will be streamed through UNLV's YouTube channel. The Rebels will have broadcasters for all UNLV games but none for non-UNLV contests. Live stats will also be available.
UP NEXT
Following their weekend of games, UC Santa Barbara will return home to host their first tournament of the season. The Gauchos will welcome Sacramento State, Northern Colorado, Michigan and St. John's to the friendly confines of Campus Diamond.
