UC SANTA BARBARA OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

The Gauchos score nine runs on nine hits and belt a total of four homers, defeating the Matadors 9-0 in five innings.

May. 1, 2005

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Jennifer Davis, Danielle Meyers and Jessica Hejna all hit two-run homeruns and Lindsey Sommer won her second consecutive start as the UC Santa Barbara softball team defeated Cal State Northridge 9-0 in the final game of the series Sunday at Campus Diamond.

The Gauchos, who have won 12 of their last 15 contests improved to 26-16 overall and 9-6 in the Big West with the win. The Matadors fall to 14-19 overall (3-12 Big West).

Sunday's finale started and ended exactly the same way as the first game of the series for UCSB--sophomore Brittany Putich got things going with a lead off homer and Hejna drove in the game ending run. The difference, of course, was that Northridge put six runs on the board in the opener and was held scoreless in Sunday's finale.

"We hit the ball very well today," head coach Kristy Schroeder said. If we are going to have a shot at regionals, it was critical for us to sweep Northridge this weekend. Anytime you hit four homeruns in a game, you are going to be pretty tough to beat."

Santa Barbara jumped all over Northridge early and never looked back.

After Putich hit a solo shot to dead center in the first inning, Hejna followed with a double down the right field line and, two batters later, Davis put one over the left field fence to give the Gauchos a 3-0 advantage.

UCSB added a run in the second on a RBI single by Lindsey Herrin and another in the third when Hejna walked with the bases loaded.

The Matadors tried to answer in the fourth inning when they hit back-to-back singles with one out, but the Gaucho defense came through, turning a key double play to get out of the inning.

Meyers' two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave Santa Barbara a 7-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.

After Sommer retired the side in the top of the fifth, freshman Nicole Churnock led off the bottom half of the frame with a base-hit bunt. Putich then reached on a fielder's choice as Churnock was thrown out at second. The next batter was Hejna, who hit a towering shot over the right field fence and the Gauchos prevailed 9-0, as the run rule came into effect.

Hejna finished the day 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and three RBI.

Sommer was very effective in the circle for the second game in a row and earned her third shutout victory of the season. She gave up four hits while striking out three and walking three in five innings of work. The San Diego, Calif. native improves to 10-5 on the year.

Erin Sigala got the nod for the Matadors but only lasted 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. Kia Fennell came on in relief, but did not have any better luck, giving up five runs on five hits in three innings of work. With the loss, Sigala falls to 5-11.

The Gauchos return to action Saturday, May 7, when they head south to face Long Beach State in a critical Big West Series beginning at 1:00 p.m.