Senior Shelby Wisdom connects with a pitch, sending it flying. Dustin Harris/Daily Nexus
The UCSB softball team will play its last home stand of the regular season this weekend beginning with a Saturday doubleheader as it hosts UC Riverside in a three-game series.
After back-to-back wins, the Gauchos enter this weekend with an overall record of 17-31 and a Big West conference record of 4-11. UC Riverside comes into the weekend standing at 35-15 overall with a conference record of 7-8.
“Honestly, it was a great feeling to get those two wins last weekend,” senior utility player Shelby Wisdom said. “We continue to work hard and getting those wins proved to us that we are still in it.”
The Gauchos earned back-to-back wins for the first time since March and the pitching staff for the Gauchos held Hawaii to just seven runs over the three games. Junior pitcher Ashley Ludlow pitched masterfully in Saturday’s finale, allowing just one run through seven innings.
As a team, UCSB still sports an ERA of 5.52 and averages only 2.86 strikeouts per game.
However, the past weekend was a big step and the Gaucho pitching staff will look to continue their success against UC Riverside.
This task will not be easy as Riverside averages 4.4 runs per game and the team has five players hitting .300 or above this season, including sophomore infielder Haley Harris.
Harris is hitting .329 this season and leads the team with 34 runs scored thus far. Harris also provides much needed speed on the base path, as she has stolen 10 bases and hit five triples this season.
While Harris is a threat, the Gauchos must take extra caution when facing freshman infielder/pitcher Rebecca Faulkner. Faulkner is batting .321 this season and leads the team with nine home runs and 40 RBI. She also leads the team with a .579 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .405.
“Riverside is really aggressive and they have a lot of speed,” sophomore outfielder Kristen Clark said. “We have to keep hitting and keep them from taking extra bases.”
While UCSB’s pitchers may get all they can handle, the Gauchos have some firepower of their own that always puts pressure on opponents. As a team, the Gauchos are hitting .306 with a .408 slugging percentage and 22 home runs this season.
Clark has been red hot with the bat for UCSB, boasting a .436 average and leading the team with nine runs scored thus far in conference games. Clark also leads all starters with a .466 on-base percentage in conference games.
Junior catcher MeShalon Moore has also been stellar at the plate during conference play this season. She is averaging .383 and leads the team with three home runs and a .638 slugging percentage. Moore has tallied an incredible 17 RBI through just 15 games.
UCSB’s bats will be challenged in this one, however, as Riverside’s redshirt junior pitcher Chelsea Ponce has been dominant this season. Ponce has a 1.35 ERA this season and has amassed a total of 26 wins and five shutouts. Opponents are only batting .200 when she is on the mound.
Wisdom, senior utility player DeJanee Moore and senior infielder Jenessa Jeppesen will be celebrated on Sunday as it marks the last regular season home game for these seniors.
The first pitch at home will take place Saturday at noon.
A version of this article appeared on page 11 of April 30, 2015’s print edition of the Daily Nexus.
