SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – With their sweep over Long Beach in today's doubleheader, the UC Santa Barbara Softball team (24-17, 13-4 Big West) has won a series against both Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton in the same season for the first time since 2017.
 
After putting up two runs in the first inning of game one, the Gauchos never looked back, going on to win the first game 5-3. In game two, the Gauchos fell behind by four runs but overcame the deficit and walked the Beach off in the bottom of the seventh to win the second game 10-9.
 
FROM HEAD COACH JO EVANS
Thoughts on the game: "I thought our team showed such great resilience in game two, said Evans. "We talked and said if this is going to be a slugfest, we are going to out-slug them. Our team handled themselves well, stayed composed and bent but never broke. For us to come out and take two and win the series on day one is huge for us."
 
Thoughts on series wins over CSUF and LBSU: "I think it says there's a new day in Santa Barbara. Our ballclub expects to win and we are just focused on how we are playing and not who we are playing."

GAME ONE: GAUCHOS 5, BEACH 3
UC Santa Barbara defeated Long Beach State 5-3 with a strong start, scoring four runs in the first three innings in game one of today's doubleheader.
 
The Gauchos took an early lead in the first inning, as Giselle Mejia doubled down the right-field line and was brought home by Bella Fuentes, who hit a two-run homer to left field. This gave the Gauchos a 2-0 lead. The Gauchos held the Beach scoreless through their first two innings maintaining a 2-0 lead.
 
The third inning saw Long Beach score an unearned run, narrowing the gap. However, the Gauchos responded with Ainsley Waddell driving in two runs with a single up the middle, extending their lead to 4-1. In the fifth inning, they added another run when Alexa Sams walked with the bases loaded, increasing their advantage to 5-1.
 
Long Beach made a push in the sixth inning, scoring two runs with a single by, but Santa Barbara's defense held firm. The seventh inning concluded without further scoring, securing a 5-3 victory for the Gauchos.
 
GAME TWO: GAUCHOS 10, BEACH 9
UC Santa Barbara edged out Long Beach State with a 10-9 victory in the second game of their doubleheader, highlighted by a pair of three-run innings coming late in the game.
 
The second inning saw Long Beach State take an early lead with four runs, driven by a series of hits including a two-RBI singles. The Gauchos responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs, starting with Waddell scoring on a fielder's choice followed by RBI single from Erin Mendoza and Mejia, narrowing the deficit to 4–3.
 
In the fourth inning, UC Santa Barbara took control with a powerful offensive display. Emily Carr hit a two-run home run, followed by a solo homer from Santos, putting the Gauchos ahead 7–6. The home team extended their lead in the fifth inning with another three runs, highlighted by Carr's second home run of the game, a three-run shot to left center, increasing their lead to 9–7.
 
After securing the first out of the seventh inning, the Beach rallied to tie the game at nine. Sam Stoll did a great job limiting Long Beach State in the inning and getting out of the inning with the game tied. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Delaina Ma'ae began the frame with a lead-off walk followed by a Tehya Banks single. The next batter the Beach would throw out Ma'ae on the base paths on a fielder's choice and after a wild pitch the two runners on first and second moved up 60 feet, both in scoring position.

Erin Mendoza stepped to the plate and battled for nine pitches before lining out to left field. With two outs and two runners in scoring position Jazzy Santos was able to fight off an inside pitch and single to the shortstop, resulting in the winning run crossing home plate. The Gauchos walked off the Beach 10-9.
 
UP NEXT
The Gauchos and Beach will conclude their series with a single game tomorrow, April 13. First pitch will be at 1 p.m. at Campus Diamond.