RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Softball team is set to complete their six-game road trip with a three-game series at UC Riverside. The Gauchos and Highlanders are seperated but just a game in The Big West standings.
LAST TIME OUT
UC Santa Barbara softball won their series against UC Davis (two games to one) to get over the first leg of their six-game road trip and keep hold on fourth place in the conference. After consecutive eight run games and emphatic wins, the Gauchos found themselves on the wrong side of the Aggies' own eight run game – dropping the finale in Davis.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
Jazzy Santos and Ainsley Waddell netted Field Player and Freshman of the Week awards respectively following a great outing at La Rue Field. By winning this series, Santa Barbara was able to separate themselves from the logjam of 8-10 teams vying for fourth place. As the regular season winds down, the Blue and Gold look to catch up to Cal Poly while outpacing the three teams who currently trail them by only one game.
Waddell scored twice and had a RBI to win her fourth Big West Freshman of the Week award. The two-way player's superb showings have earned her the most freshman awards of any softball player in the conference.
Santos was responsible for seven of the team's 18 total runs across the series. This offensive outburst propelled her into the team lead for home runs with five on the year. This was the sophomore's second award of the season.
Despite the loss, outfield anchor Alana Snow went 3-for-3 with an RBI in the finale to add to her excellent senior season.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
With the Gaucho's mark of 10-11 leading UC Riverside's own of 9-12 by a slim margin, Santa Barbara aims to win this contest to remain comfortable in the standings as the 2024 regular season approaches its conclusion.
On the mound, Briza Blanco will be attempting to thwart the aforementioned hopes of the Gauchos. The fifth-year senior has allowed 46 runs through 63.1 innings pitched and sports a Pitcher of the Week award from April.
Maddie Heinlin will probably also make an appearance in the circle. Her opposing batting average of .260 is good for sixth in the Big West. Nadia Witt and Kat Montuya are the Highlander's two biggest offensive threats who find themselves in many of the conference's top 20 for meaningful hitting statistics.
FOLLOW ALONG
The penultimate regular season series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 4 at 1 p.m. and concludes Sunday, May 5 at 1 p.m. The Gauchos and Highlanders series will be available to stream on ESPN+. Live stats and an audio only broadcast will be available for all three games.
