RIVERSIDE, CA -- The UC Santa Barbara softball team defeated UC Riverside 9-3, behind Bella Fuentes and Ainsley Waddell who both collected three hits to help lead UC Santa Barbarra their seventh straight Big West victory.

Sophia Clark got the win for the Gauchos. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, on seven hits, striking out four.

In addition to her three hits, Fuentes had a walk and three RBIs to lead the Gauchos, along with Waddell's three base knocks. Mejia also helped out for Santa Barbara, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding two doubles and two RBIs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos put runs on the board first, starting the scoring in the second inning. UC Santa Barbara scored twice, with one run coming across on a Bella Fuentes' single.

The Gauchos then held the Highlanders scoreless before extending their lead in the fourth inning. Fuentes' run-scoring single highlighted an inning where Santa Barbara scored twice, which brought the Gauchos lead to 4-0.

The Gauchos held UC Riverside scoreless before adding to their lead, making it 7-0 the following inning.

The Highlanders fought back, closing the gap to 7-2 until UC Santa Barbara added some insurance in the sixth. The Gauchos added a run on Mejia's one-out RBI double, bringing the advantage to 8-2.

UC Riverside added a run and cut their deficit to 8-3 until the Gauchos scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 9-3. Toledo came across to score the lone run of the inning for UC Santa Barbara and get them on the board. The score remained 9-3 for the rest of the game, as the Gauchos coasted to the win.

UP NEXT
The Gauchos and Highlanders will finish the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.