SANTA BARBARA, Calif – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team ran into a buzzsaw in the circle during game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Junior Haley Rainey tossed a no-hitter for Cal State Fullerton, leading the Titans over the Gauchos 3-0.
FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
"We struggled today no doubt about it," said Evans. "
Camryn Snyder threw well in game one, she made one mistake on that home run, but gave us a chance. Offensively we weren't in it. She (Rainey) only threw strikes when she had to and made us chase a lot of pitches."
GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 0, TITANS 3
The Gauchos were able to put a base runner on in five of the seven innings but were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position. UC Santa Barbara went a total of 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Gauchos last got a runner on third in the third, when junior
Erin Mendoza made it 60 feet away from scoring with two outs.
Senior
Camryn Snyder started and took the loss in the circle for the Gauchos. The right-hander went all seven innings, giving up just three runs while striking out one. This was Snyder's third consecutive start where she has allowed three or fewer earned runs.
GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 2, TITANS 6
Trailing 5-0, the Gauchos first put runs on the board in the fifth inning.
Elicia Acosta put Santa Barbara on the board with a one-out solo home run off junior Staci Chambers, her fourth of the season.
The Gauchos kept the deficit at 5-1 before closing the gap further in the sixth. UC Santa Barbara scored a run when Acosta drew a walk from that scored freshman
Tehya Banks, which tightened the Titans lead to 5-2. The Gauchos were unable to get any closer, as Cal State Fullerton added one run to their tally on the way to a 6-2 final.
Sophomore
Malaya Johnson got the ball to start for the Gauchos. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out two. Like Snyder, this was her third consecutive outing allowing three earned runs or less.
At the plate, the Gauchos were led by junior
Elicia Acosta, who went 1-for-2 on the day with a home run, a walk and two RBI. Junior
Alexa Sams furnished a noteworthy effort as well, going 2-for-4 at the dish.
UP NEXT
The Gauchos and Titans will conclude their series tomorrow April 21. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Campus Diamond.