BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Softball team (17-14, 6-3 Big West) delivered an onslaught of runs in the rubber match against Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday afternoon. The Gauchos defeated the 'Runners 12-1 behind 10 hits and were perfect in the field committing zero errors.

FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
"I'm pleased to see our ballclub continuing to improve and competing hard every inning," said Evans. "We got two good complete games out of Malaya Johnson and she is showing good leadership on the mound. Our defense had a solid weekend and overall I like the way we're playing right now. To come away 5-1 on the road these past two weekends and move ourselves up in the standings shows our kids know how to compete."

HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara began the game with a strong first inning, scoring two runs in the opening frame. Giselle Mejia's RBI single brought Alexa Sams home, and Bella Fuentes followed with another RBI single, driving in Mejia.

In the second inning, the Gauchos extended their lead to 3-0. After a series of plays, Mejia grounded out to second base, allowing Sams to score. Meanwhile, Cal State Bakersfield managed to score one run in their half of the inning, making the score 3-1.

The third inning proved pivotal for Santa Barbara as they widened the gap significantly. Mejia hit a double, clearing the bases and bringing in three runs. Delaina Ma'ae's subsequent double added another run, pushing the Gaucho advantage to 8-1.

UC Santa Barbara closed out the game with a strong seventh inning, scoring four additional runs. Jazzy Santos doubled to start the inning, and further scoring was facilitated by a combination of errors and base hits. Bella Fuentes, Emily Carr, and Erin Mendoza each contributed RBIs, finalizing the score at 12-1 in favor of the Blue and Gold.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos return to Campus Diamond on Wednesday, March 26 as they host Santa Clara in a midweek doubleheader. The first of two games begins at 12 p.m. For those unable to attend in person, the game will be broadcast through ESPN+ with live stats available.