FULLERTON, Calif. – After plating 21 runs yesterday, the UC Santa Barbara Softball team was shut out and limited to just two hits in the Championship game against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday afternoon. With the 1-0 loss, the Gauchos' season ends. The Blue and Gold finish with an overall record of 31-26, their second consecutive 30-win season. The first time since doing it in 2013 and 2014.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos went three up, three down to start the game, making the Fullerton pitcher throw just 13 pitches. CSF, in their half of the first inning, got the lead-off runner on but proceeded to go away quietly, unable to push across a run. This was only the start of the pitcher's duel that would ensue.
After a scoreless second by both teams, UC Santa Barbara started to gain some momentum in the third. After the leadoff batter struck out,
Ainsley Waddell was hit by a pitch, which was followed by
Jazzy Santos reaching on a walk. The second out was recorded on a ground ball to second base, but pushed the two base runners to second and third.
Tehya Banks then walked on four straight pitches to load the bases for
Ella Myers. On a 1-2 count, Myers was jammed just a bit and flew out to left field to end the Gaucho threat.
In the bottom of the third, the game looked to remain scoreless. With a runner on second with two outs, an untimely Gaucho error plated the lone run of the game for the Titans.
Through the middle innings, neither team threatened, and the game stood at a stalemate. Following a quick bottom of the sixth, the Gauchos were down to their final three outs. The first two batters of the inning were retired before
Delaina Ma'ae singled up the middle to extend the game.
Ainsley Waddell stepped to the plate, having already hit three round trippers in the tournament. An elevated pitch was hit to deep left-center field but stayed in the park and Fullerton recorded the final out.
Malaya Johnson pitched equally as well in the game, despite being tagged with the loss. Johnson twirled all six innings, allowing just five hits, allowing one unearned run and striking out one.
IN CONCLUSION
For the second consecutive season, UC Santa Barbara reached the Championship Game through the elimination bracket and reached the 30-win mark. A record 11 Gauchos were named to All-Big West teams and two players earned major awards in
Dani Rauscher (Freshman Field Player of the Year) and
Sophia Clark (Freshman Pitcher of the Year).
