UCSB softball kicked off their preseason schedule on Saturday in a big way, taking a double-header win against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Gauchos got a chance to bat all the way through their line-up and it was decided that the two games would be brought together into a single twelve-inning contest. UCSB would win the newly formatted match 12-9, bringing them a win over the Otters.

This preseason, the key for the team will be getting everyone playing time and gaining experience before the regular season kicks off with the Gaucho Classic in February.

“We did a pretty good job of making sure everyone was on the same page for both games,” junior catcher Lainey DePompa said.

It had been several months since the UCSB Softball team had played in an actual game, so an experience like this one has come at a premium.

“We are at a good starting point now,” Depompa said. “We only had two full team practices before this Saturday and it was really exciting to see it all come together so smoothly.”

UCSB finished last season with a 15-37 overall mark a 6-15 Big West record while Cal State Monterey Bay had a record of 33-20 last year.

The Gauchos will come back Campus Diamond on Oct. 23 and 24 for games against College of the Canyons and Cuesta College, respectively.

Coach Brie Galicinao was excited about the start for the Gauchos.

“We’ve gotten the year off to a good start,” Galicinao said.

“She likes how we started out and is excited to see what we are capable of after more time getting a feel for each other,” DePompa said. “We just need more team practices.”

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