The Cathedral City Classic ended in a 3-3
split for the Gauchos, with two of the team’s
losses coming to national top-20 teams.
In the first of the two games on Sunday,
UCSB (9-5 overall) beat Utah 4-2, coming
from behind to mark the first Gaucho victory
against the Utes in seven tries. Against
Loyola Marymount in the final game of
the tournament, the Gauchos fell behind
early and were never able to recover despite
outhitting the Lions 14-7, falling to them
9-4.
“I think that had we been playing our best
game, the outcome would’ve been different,”
junior catcher Lainey DePompa said.
“They’re a really good hitting team and that’s
hard to stop, especially in the sixth game of
the tournament.”
In the first game of the tournament on
Thursday, the Gauchos suffered a loss to
#19 Oklahoma State by a score of 9-1. After
tying the game up at one run apiece in the
third inning, the Cowgirls hit a grand slam
and never looked back. The same day, the
Gauchos fell to #8 Tennessee, their fourth
consecutive loss.
“They were a semifinalist at the World
Series last year, but we played our game and
made adjustments,” DePompa said. “We
were pushing them to their limit. Everyone
contributed, which allowed us to attack and
let us play with a top team in the nation.”
In the 9-5 Long Island game Friday,
UCSB snapped its losing streak, scoring early
and never allowing the Blackbirds to come
within four runs.
“Both teams were hitting, but our team
did a good job of not being affected by the
other team hitting back,” Head Coach Brie
Galicinao said. “Even if there was a lull, [we]
were able to recognize that and pick it up.”
On Saturday, UCSB beat Ohio State 11-3
in five innings. Seven Gauchos scored as the
Buckeyes went through four pitchers trying
to find an answer for the Gauchos’ lineup.
Junior right fielder Allison Taylor led the way
for the offense, going three for three with
four RBIs in the game.
“[Players] one through nine [for us are]
tough,” Galicinao said of her team’s depth.
“The more everyone can hit, the better pitches
the team’s going to see, because the opposing
pitcher is going to have to pay attention to all
nine.”
The Gauchos finish off 15 games on the
road at the DeMarini Invitational in Fullerton
next weekend, where UCSB is slated to play
Oregon State, Indiana University–Purdue,
University Fort Wayne, #16 Stanford and
Southern Miss.
Print