SANTA BARBARA, Calif -- In front of a sold-out crowd, the UC Santa Barbara Softball team limited the Titans to two runs on Sunday, and the Gauchos lineup did the rest, pushing just enough runners across to eke out the 3-2 victory. The 500+ fans that filled Campus Diamond backed the Gauchos all game.

FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
On her message to the team after yesterday's losses: "That was a tough day for us and we just talked about playing with confidence," explained Evans. "We talked about playing with confidence and how we are prepared and put in the hard work and then just trust it. We came out today and looked different. We had an edge, a fire in our belly. I told the dugout to get a little nutty today and have some fun."

On Waddell's performance: "She went out there and played her heart out. She got nervous a couple of times, you could see that. But she always answered right back. I am excited for her to get a win in that situation."

Thoughts on the crowd and atmosphere at Campus Diamond: "I thought the crowd was great. I walked up here saying we need Taylor Swift Day every game. It was really fun to have the crowd. It was my dream coming here that we could turn this into a big event where people want to bring their families, bring their kids and have these little girls watch our players and want to be them. I hope we can be the type of program and culture that people want to jump on board and be a part of. The energy was great, a tip of the cap to the community because it made a difference today and gave us momentum."

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Madelyn McNally came across to score the lone run of the inning for UC Santa Barbara on an Ashley Donaldson RBI ground out. 

The Gauchos lost the lead they built in the first but got back on the board in the fourth while trailing 2-1. UC Santa Barbara brought home a pair, on an Alana Snow single up the middle scoring Ashley Donaldson. After a wild pitch moved Snow up 60 feet, Elicia Acosta singled to center, driving in Snow to regain the lead for the Gauchos.

In the top half of the fifth, the Titans would threaten after getting two base runners on with one out. With runners on first and second Ainsley Waddell induced a ground ball up the middle that tipped off of Waddell and to McNally who stepped on second and threw on to first for an inning-ending double play. 

In the sixth, the Gauchos would get out of another jam, again with runners on first and second with one out. In came Malaya Johnson who proceeded to sit the next two batters down to end the inning on a fly out to left field and a fielder's choice ground out to McNally at shortstop. Johnson went three up, and three down in the seventh to seal the victory for UC Santa Barbara.

Freshman Ainsley Waddell got the win for the Gauchos. The southpaw went 5.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out two. Sophomore Malaya Johnson also pitched well, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit and picking up her first save of the season.

GAME NOTES

• The Gauchos out-hit the Titans at a 6-5 clip.
• This was UC Santa Barbara's first win over Cal State Fullerton since 2017.
• The Santa Barbara pitching staff limited Fullerton to just 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
• Acosta led the Gauchos at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara will hit the road as they travel to UC Davis next weekend. The Gauchos and Aggies will open up their series on Friday, April 26 with a doubleheader slated to begin at 1 p.m. They will conclude their series on Saturday, April 27 with a single game at noon.