The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos took a break from conference play against the Pepperdine University Waves on April 8, securing a 9-4 victory, thanks to incredible offensive performances by some of UC Santa Barbara’s biggest hitters.

The Gauchos swing for the fences in a dominant offensive performance. Courtesy of UCSB Athletics

The first three innings were back and forth, with home runs and doubles from both sides. The matchup started unsteady for the Gauchos, with Pepperdine scoring all four of their runs by the fourth inning, leaving UCSB trailing behind. Junior pitcher Frank Camarillo was on the mound through the first two innings and into the third before freshman pitcher Nathan Aceves provided relief and closed the frame.

The bottom of the third inning gave the Gauchos the chance to even the score – and they did, thanks to solo home runs by sophomore infielder Xavier Esquer and junior utility player Cole Kosciusko. This placed UCSB and Pepperdine tied at three runs apiece. The Waves were able to score one more, but in the fifth inning, the Gauchos retaliated. Starting off the hitting parade was sophomore infielder Jonathan Mendez with a double, followed closely by junior catcher Nate Vargas, freshman outfielder Rowan Kelly, senior utility player Reiss Calvin and senior utility player LeTrey McCollum in a series of backto-back doubles and heads-up baserunning to put UCSB up 8-4 by the bottom of the fifth.

The last few frames of the game were relatively uneventful for the Waves, as the Gauchos would go on to throw four pitchers, all able to hold Pepperdine scoreless. Sophomore pitcher Nic Peterson retired three in a row in the sixth inning, and with sophomore pitcher AJ Krodel doing the same in the seventh, the Waves were down to six outs to come up with five runs.

Later innings brought a new face to the mound, with freshman pitcher Stunner Gonzalez making his collegiate debut and keeping up with the pattern with three straight outs. Another hit for McCollum and a stolen base later, a sacrifice fly to center field by Kosciusko put the score at 9-4 before sophomore pitcher Cole Tryba came in for the ninth, putting down the final three Pepperdine hitters.

The Gauchos now stand 24- 10 on the season and play back at home on April 17, hosting California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in the first game of three in closely by junior catcher Nate the Blue-Green Rivalry.