The UCSB baseball team returned to action Thursday afternoon, destroying Loyola Marymount, 15-4. The Gauchos pounded out 18 hits, including five home runs on the way to their sixth win of the season.

Santa Barbara opened the scoring in the second inning with back-to-back home runs from senior third baseman Dave Molidor and junior first baseman Tyler Von Schell.

UCSB then added a run in the third, before scoring thrice more in the fourth inning, two of the runs coming on sophomore center fielder Skip Shumaker’s first home run of the season.

The Gauchos then exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning, as their first five batters to get on base scored. Senior shortstop Jeff Bannon got into the act with his first home run of the year, this one a three-run bomb.

Von Schell then finished UCSB’s scoring barrage with his second home run of the day, a solo shot coming in the eighth inning.

Junior pitcher James Garcia picked up the win for Santa Barbara. Garcia pitched six strong innings, giving up only two runs while striking out five.

– Nexus Staff Report