SANTA BARBARA, Calif – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team earned a split on the day against CSUN. After dropping a heartbreaker in game one, the Gauchos bounced back with a walk-off win in game two.

FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
On the message between games: "Just keep our wits about us and do a better job of getting outs," said Evans. "I thought there were a couple of times in game one if we just got outs it's a tie game. I just want our kids to come out and fight and they did."

On Jazzy Santos' performance: "She looked good all game, Maddie McNally struggled a little, which is highly unusual her her, but you have Jazzy who really stepped up and had key at-bats all day. A really big at-bat was Kaylin Garcia coming off the bench and getting a base hit. She is just a scrappy kid and will fight for it."

GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 3, MATADORS 4
The Gauchos were trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning when they first got on the board. UC Santa Barbara put up two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of Alana Snow.

The Matadors then tied the ballgame at two before the Gauchos came back to reclaim their advantage in the sixth inning. Santa Barbara scored once on an RBI single again off the bat of Snow, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Gauchos. The Gauchos were unable to hold the lead, as CSUN scored two times in the top of the seventh to gain the lead and eventually win the game.

Senior Camryn Snyder got the ball to start for the Gauchos and the right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits, while striking out three.

At the plate, the Gauchos were led by senior Alana Snow, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a triple and two RBI. Freshman Ainsley Waddell compiled a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and a walk. Sophomore Jazzy Santos also chipped in for Santa Barbara, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate.

GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 4, MATADORS 3
The Gauchos got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. All three runs came with two outs in the inning. First Alexa Sams put the Gauchos on the board with a two-RBI single. Elicia Acosta followed that up with an RBI single of her own to put the Gauchos up 3-0 early.

CSU Northridge then rallied to tie the ballgame at 3-3 in the fourth with a two-out RBI double. Both teams were held scoreless for the next two innings. After putting the Matadors down in order UC Santa Barbara walked it off in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single off the bat of Jazzy Santos.

Sophomore Malaya Johnson started in the circle and picked up the win for the Gauchos. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, on six hits, and striking out three.

In the batter's box, the Gauchos were led by Santos, who went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI. Junior Alexa Sams compiled a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Junior Elicia Acosta also contributed for UCSB, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

GAME NOTES

• UC Santa Barbara's power output was led by Waddell, who had two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
• In game two the Gauchos went 4-for-6 (.667) with runners in scoring position.
• Alexa Sams extended her hitting streak to eight games going 1-for-3 (.333) in both games today.
• Ainsley Waddell was a home run shy of the cycle today across both games.
• Ashley Donaldson has now reached base safely in seven consecutive games.

UP NEXT
UC Santa Barbara and CSUN will conclude their series tomorrow, May 11. First pitch of the series finale will be at 1 p.m. Following the game the Gauchos will honor their five seniors on the field. For those unable to attend the game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats also available.