SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA -- The UC Santa Barbara Softball team dropped both games of their doubleheader to rival Cal Poly on Thursday afternoon. A full day of softball saw the Gauchos comeback in game one fall short while they could not push across a pivotal run in extra innings in game two.

GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 6, MUSTANGS 10

The Gauchos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. UC Santa Barbara plated a run on a based-loaded walk by senior Alana Snow.

After the Mustangs rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Gauchos came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Santa Barbara brought home a pair, with one run driven in by freshman Emily Carr's single, which brought the Gauchos lead to 3-1.

Cal Poly fired back to tie the ballgame at three before the Gauchos reclaimed a 4-3 advantage in the fourth inning.

UC Santa Barbara gave up the lead they built in the fourth, but got back on the scoreboard in the seventh trailing 10-4. Senior Madelyn McNally's run-scoring single brought home one run in a two-run output for the Gauchos, tightening the Cal Poly lead to 10-6. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.

GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 3, MUSTANGS 4

The Gauchos got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. UC Santa Barbara got an RBI single from Alexa Sams, scoring McNally.

The Mustangs then rallied to score three runs and take a 3-1 lead before the Gauchos got back on the board in the fourth. Freshman Emily Carr came across to score the lone run of the inning for the Gauchos, which tightened the Mustangs lead to 3-2.

UC Santa Barbara held the Mustangs off the scoreboard before rallying to tie it up at three in the seventh. The Gauchos picked up a run on Ashley Donaldson's RBI double. Cal Poly then scored one time over the remaining three innings to break the tie and grab the 4-3 win.

Sophomore Malaya Johnson pitched every inning of the contest. Johnson went 9.1 innings allowing three earned runs and striking out one in her 164 pitch performance.

At the plate, the Gauchos were paced by senior Ashley Donaldson, who went 2-for-2 on the day with a double, two walks and an RBI. Junior Alexa Sams put together a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Madelyn McNally also helped out for UCSB, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.

GAME NOTES

• McNally led the Gauchos, picking up three hits in the ballgame in game one.
• Every Gauchos starter reached base safely in the game one loss.
• UC Santa Barbara left 24 runners stranded on base between the two games.
• The Gauchos drew six walks from Cal Poly pitching in game two of the doubleheader.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos and Mustangs will wrap up their series tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. For those unable to attend the game will be streamed through ESPN+ with live stats available.