FRESNO, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (6-1) kept their momentum rolling in their first game at the Fresno State Kickoff Classic. The Gauchos came from behind to win their sixth straight game as they defeated Utah 6-5 in eight innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first inning, UC Santa Barbara began with a single by Alexa Sams, but the team was unable to capitalize, leaving two runners on base. By the second inning, Lucy Mogan managed to get a hit, yet the team remained scoreless despite the effort.

During the fourth inning, Delaina Ma'ae hit a double, but the Gauchos was again unable to drive any runs in as the inning concluded with no change in the score. The team began to shift the momentum in the sixth inning after Sams hit a double and later scored an unearned run off a single by Bella Fuentes.

The seventh inning proved pivotal for UC Santa Barbara. Daryn Siegel and Jazzy Santos both walked, followed by a single from Sams. Ainsley Waddell then delivered a double, driving in two runs. Ma'ae's single added two more, resulting in a four-run inning and pushing Santa Barbara ahead 5-3. The Utes pushed two runs across in the bottom of the seventh and would force extra innings.

The eighth inning saw the Gauchos extend its lead to 6-5 when Mogan scored an unearned run. Grace Luderer came in and closed down the bottom of the eighth, stranding the tying run on third and lifting the Gauchos over Utah, 6-5.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos will continue the Classic tomorrow, Feb. 15. UC Santa Barbara will play at 12:30 p.m. against LMU followed by a 3 p.m. first pitch against host school, Fresno State.