SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Softball team will host CSUN in the final week of the regular season. The Gauchos and Matadors will play a doubleheader on Friday, May 10 followed by a single game on Saturday, May 11. Following the single game on Saturday, the Gauchos will honor and recognize five seniors including Ashley Donaldson, Madelyn McNally, Alana Snow, Chloe Stewart and Camryn Snyder.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Santa Barbara softball traveled to Riverside to conclude their six-game road trip last weekend. The Gauchos managed to win the first two games, but the Highlanders took game three by one run despite being outhit 11-8. By winning twice, Santa Barbara was able to get to .500 in conference play ahead of their final matchup against the Cal State Northridge Matadors.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAUCHOS
The Gauchos did not struggle to score during their weekend in Riverside. The team produced four or more runs in each of their games against UC Riverside.

Seniors Madelyn McNally and Alana Snow were instrumental in these offensive showings. McNally had six hits across the weekend with an RBI and two doubles, while Snow batted in two runners in game three.

On the mound, senior Camryn Snyder allowed only one run in the first game of the series, striking out five UC Riverside batters in the process. 

In game two sophomore Bella Fuentes hit her first home run of the season – becoming the sixth Gaucho to homer this season.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS
Cal State Northridge travels up the 101 with a record of 8-16 within the Big West: good for ninth in the conference. The Matadors are hot, as they come in having won four of their last five contests. 

Last weekend outfielder Mikayla Carman's performance at the plate netted her the conference field player of the week. She had six hits, five runs, and five RBI over three games against the Tritons of UC San Diego. She sports a .364 batting average on the year and has the fourth most hits in the Big West (52).

Shaylan Whatman has also had an impressive year for CSUN. In conference, she is top five in slugging percentage, OPS, runs, RBI, doubles, triples, and home runs. Her batting is not the only way she gets on base – as she has been hit by pitch 13 times this year.

The pitching tandem of Lauryn Carranco and Isabella Alonso have been reliable in the circle. They each have over ten wins and together have struck out 158 batters.

Along with freshman award winner Lulu Sanchez, the Matadors are a formidable foe who are better than their record may indicate.

FOLLOW ALONG
The Blue and Gold kick off their season finale at home against the Matadors on Friday, May 10 at noon. The series wraps up on Saturday, May 11 at 1 p.m.  For those not able to make it to Campus Diamond, games will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available throughout the weekend.