UCSB Jumps on Cal Poly Early, Rolls to 12-3 Victory
Jason Willow (25) is greeted at home by UCSB teammate Bryce Willits after hitting a two-run homer. (Felipe Garcia / Noozhawk photo) By UCSB Sports Information
| 9:23 p.m.
A six-run first inning sparked the UCSB baseball team to a 12-3 win over Cal Poly on Sunday, giving the Gauchos the four-game Big West Series, 3-1.
JD Callahan (3-2) was solid in his Sunday start at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, tossing seven full innings and allowing just three runs, all of which came in the fourth inning. He gave up eight hits across the start, had no walks, and struck out six.
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Coming in for the save in the ninth was UCSB s hottest bullpen arm, Carter Benbrook, who retired the final three batters to earn his team-best third save of the season.
All five runs scored came by way of the solo home run with Samuelson giving the Mustangs the early lead in the second inning.
It wasn t until the fifth that UCSB cracked the scoreboard as Bryce Willits went yard for just the second time this season to even things at 1-1. The go-ahead and game-winning homer came off of the hot bat of Christian Kirtley in the seventh. He has now hit three bombs in the last two games.
Game One Breakdown: Loss
The Gauchos got out in front early; in the top of the second inning, Bryce Willits drove in a run with an RBI double, and Nicolas Vogt brought in Willits with an RBI single. Vogt continued to make an impact, as he would steal home in the top of the fourth to make it a 3-0 Gaucho lead. The momentum was put to a halt, however, as the Dirtbags responded with a 1-run fourth inning and a 3-run fifth inning. That would prove to be the decisive inning, as the Dirtbags held on for a 4-3 victory.Â
Christian Kirtley s 3-Run Homer in 12th Lifts UCSB Over Long Beach State | Sports noozhawk.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from noozhawk.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.