After returning home for the one-game series against Loyola Marymount University, in which the Gauchos secured their third win in a row, they headed down south for the weekend for a three-game series against the California State University, Long Beach Dirtbags. 

Nexus File Photo

The first game of the series was anything but an offensive battle between the two heavy-hitting teams as the Dirtbags took Game 1 with a final score of 1-0, the first time the Gauchos have been shutout since their matchup against California State University, Fullerton back in early April.

Graduate pitcher Nico Zeglin was named the Big West Pitcher of the Week after his memorable night for the Dirtbags, recording an impressive 10 strikeouts and allowing just 3 hits.

Zeglin pitched all 9 innings for the Dirtbags to which he would surpass the 100 strikeout mark for the year and record his fourth double-digit strikeout performance of the season. 

Sophomore pitcher Matt Ager of the Gauchos also had himself a night after nearly topping his season high of 13 strikeouts, finishing the day retiring 10 Dirtbags in his 7 innings pitched and allowing just 4 hits and 1 earned run. 

After a poor offensive performance from the night before, the Gauchos completely turned things around in Game 2 as 4 Gaucho players went the distance and managed to shut out the Dirtbags with a final score of 8-0.

The Gauchos started the second inning with back-to-back home runs by sophomore outfielder Ivan Brethowr and junior catcher John Newman Jr.

Multiple errors committed by the Dirtbags resulted in additional runs for the Gauchos.

A fielding error by redshirt junior pitcher Graham Osman resulted in sophomore outfielder LeTrey McCollum reaching first, who eventually crossed home plate along with sophomore infielder Zander Darby after a wild throw by junior first baseman Jonathon Long that also resulted in junior infielder Nick Oakley reaching first.

UCSB headed into the bottom of the second inning with a comfortable 4-run lead. 

Another home run by Brethowr in the top of the fifth inning brought home sophomore designated hitter Aaron Parker, who had previously walked, extending the lead to 6. 

Redshirt junior outfielder Jared Sundstrom and redshirt senior outfielder and catcher Christian Kirtley went on to add to the home run count after Sundstrom homered to left field in the top of the seventh inning and Kirtley launched one into center field in the top of the ninth inning. 

Junior pitcher Mike Gutierrez started things off for the Gauchos in Game 2 having pitched 4 innings and finishing the day with 4 strikeouts, allowing just 1 hit. 

Freshman pitcher Hudson Barrett managed to put away the Dirtbags the rest of the game by tying his season high of 8 strikeouts and allowing just 2 hits in his 5 innings pitched. 

Coming off a dominating performance both offensively and defensively in Game 2, the Gauchos looked to take the series in Game 3 by opening up the first inning with a 2-0 lead. 

An RBI single through the left side by freshman infielder Ty Borgogno put the Dirtbags on the board 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning. 

The Dirtbags went on to take the lead the very next inning after junior catcher Connor Burns skyrocketed one into left center to bring home Long and sophomore infielder Alex Champagne, finishing the inning with a score of 4-2. 

After starting off the following inning with back-to-back singles by Borgogno and sophomore outfielder Kyle Ashworth, a single to right field by junior infielder Nick Marinconz brought Ashworth across home plate to extend the lead to 3 runs. 

Burns would put the Dirtbags up by 5 runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after recording his second home run of the day, to which he brought home Long who previously singled up the middle. 

The Gauchos went on to score just 1 run the rest of the game after initially starting the game with a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

With the series loss to CSU Long Beach, UCSB has fallen into third place of the Big West behind UC San Diego. They look to reclaim their second place position this Tuesday, as they head back to Santa Barbara for the one-game series against California Baptist University.