April 24, 2005
STOCKTON, Calif. - Jessica Hejna went 5-for-8 with two runs and a total of five RBI as the UC Santa Barbara softball team concluded a three-game Big West Conference series at Pacific with a doubleheader Sunday at Bill Simoni field. The Gauchos fell 6-1 in the first game, before rallying in the seventh inning to take the nightcap, 8-6.
UCSB improves to 23-16 overall and 6-6 in the Big West with Sunday's split, while Pacific moves to 26-20 overall (8-4 Big West).
In the opener, Pacific jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Brandi Gordon drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and Ashlie D'Errico squeezed home Michelle Anunciation from third later in the inning.
The Tigers broke the game open with a four-run second inning, highlighted by a D'Errico two-run double.
UCSB scored its only run in the top of fifth when sophomore Hejna hit an RBI single, scoring junior Karyna Wilkerson, who had singled to lead off the inning.
Pacific starting pitcher Natalie King held the Gauchos scoreless on two hits over the first three innings and Kristen Allen came on in relief in the fourth, allowing one run on five hits and picked up the win.
Sophomore hurler Lindsey Sommer got the start in the circle for Santa Barbara and allowed six runs on seven hits while striking out five in a complete-game effort. She fell to 7-5 with the loss.
In the nightcap, UCSB scored four runs in the top of the third inning beginning with sophomore Brittany Putich's two-run homer to left. Hejna and senior Lindsey Herrin each added solo shots in the frame, putting the Gauchos on top, 4-0.
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After scoring twice in the bottom of the third, the Tigers added two more in the sixth on a fielding error, knotting the game at 4-4. Anunciation followed with a two-run single two batters later to give Pacific a 6-4 advantage heading to the seventh.
In the top of the seventh, UCSB loaded the bases with nobody out on a pair of singles by freshmen Brenda Lira and Alexandra Kinney and a walk to sophomore Liz Walters. After King came on in relief of Lauren Sandelin, Hejna hit a bases-clearing double and then scored on a Herrin sacrifice fly as UCSB prevailed, 8-6.
Hejna went 3-for-4 in the game with four RBI and two runs while Putich finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and also scored twice.
Junior pitcher Carly Harmon made her fourth start of the season and allowed four runs on eight hits in five innings of work. Sommer came on in the sixth and earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits in two innings of relief. The San Diego, Calif. native improved to 8-5 with the victory.
Sandelin took the loss for the Tigers, allowing three runs in three innings of work to fall to 1-2.
The Gauchos return to action next weekend when they host Cal State Northridge in a three-game Big West Conference series beginning Saturday, April 30 at 12:00 p.m. at Campus Diamond.
