UC Santa Barbara women’s softball returned home after going 2-3 in the Silicon Valley Invitational. The Gauchos beat the University of Northern Colorado 9-1 and San José State 9-4 but lost to Sacramento State 7-6 and twice to Santa Clara University, 9-4 and 7-0, respectively.
Dustin Harris/Daily Nexus
The Gauchos started the invitational playing Sacramento State as junior pitcher Camryn Snyder started in the circle for the Gauchos. Snyder had a tough day. Sacramento scored every inning Snyder pitched as she only pitched three and two-thirds, allowing 10 hits, 6 earned runs, 5 strikeouts and 1 home run.
Snyder’s teammates tried to mount a comeback in the later innings as a two-RBI single from freshman pitcher Malaya Johnson brought the score to 7-4 in favor of Sacramento State. The Gauchos scraped one more run across before losing 7-6.
The Gauchos returned to the field to face off against the Santa Clara Broncos, with Johnson taking the circle for the Gauchos. Again the Gauchos found themselves in trouble early as Johnson gave up 2 runs in the first, giving Santa Clara the early lead.
The Gauchos quickly responded, at three, as junior infielder Chloe Stewart racked up 2 RBIs on two different singles and scored on a walk making the score 3-3 in the third.
The Broncos scored 6 unanswered runs in the final innings, sealing their 9-4 victory over the Gauchos.
On Saturday, UCSB started their day on the right foot as Snyder limited early damage. Synder held Northern Colorado scoreless for the first two innings.
UCSB struck first as junior catcher and utility Ashley Donaldson doubled in Stewart to make it 1-0 in favor of the Gauchos. The Gauchos continued to score as they scored 5 runs the next inning to make it 6-0.
The game ended in five innings as Snyder went all 5, only giving up 1 run and striking out 4. Snyder earned the win on the day, and the Gauchos won 9-1.
Later that day, the Gauchos rematched the Santa Clara Broncos hoping to get revenge for the loss on Friday. Unfortunately, the Broncos got to Gauchos early, scoring 5 runs in the first inning, and Gauchos starter sophomore pitcher Ava Bradford was taken out after one inning of work.
The Gauchos looked to get something going offensively as Stewart recorded 2 hits, and sophomore second baseman Alexa Sams also had 2 hits, but no runs were pushed across as the Gauchos lost 7-0.
In the final invitational, the Gauchos took on the San José State Spartans with Johnson back on the mound. The Gauchos came out hot as they scored 3 runs in the first inning. Stewart continued her hot streak as she hit an RBI single to make it 1-0. Senior infielder Korie Thomas made it 3-0 in favor of the Gauchos.
The Spartans responded when they had their chance in the first, scoring 2 of their own to make it 3-2 in favor of the Gauchos.
UCSB added 2 more runs the next inning as Stewart tripled one in and sophomore catcher Daryn Siegel scored Stewart on a single. The Gauchos lead 5-2 after two innings of work.
Both the Spartans and Gauchos exchanged runs as they scored 2 runs in the fifth inning, making the score 7-4 still in favor of the Gauchos.
UCSB stole the win at 9-4, making them an overall 7-5 on the year. The Gauchos will return on the road as they compete in the Lancer Invite hosted by California Baptist University.
The Gauchos will play five games, two against California Baptist, two against Wagner University and one against Howard University.
