May 4, 2003

Box Score

Santa Barbara, Calif. - It was not a good send off for UC Santa Barbara softball's seven graduating seniors as the Gauchos dropped both games of their doubleheader to visiting Long Beach State 1-0 and 2-1. The losses drop UCSB to 34-19 on the season and 9-8 in Big West play. The wins improve LBSU to 23-17 and 11-3 in conference.

The Beach's Colleen Burdick led off game one with a walk and was driven in from first base by an Arleigh Thorp double to center field for the only score of the game one. Sophomore pitcher Meredith Cervenka (11-8) shut down the Gauchos, throwing a no-hitter while giving up just one walk to give the 49ers the 1-0 win in game one.

Santa Barbara's Loren Thornburg gave up just one run and struck out five in the losing effort, dropping her to 14-11 on the season.

Game two started much like game one, except this time it was UCSB's leadoff hitter who scored in the first. After reaching base when Burdick dropped the throw at first after her bunt, junior Leslie Simien scored from second on a Jami Trinidad RBI double to right-center. Simien was moved over to second base on one of Chantal Pershing's record setting four sacrifice bunts in game two. In the 31-year history of the program no other Gaucho had ever laid down more than two sacrifice bunts in a single-game.

Down 1-0 on the sixth, Thorp once again came through for the 49ers, this time hitting a game-deciding two-run homerun to deep center field to give them a 2-1 edge.

Runners left on base proved to be the Achilles heal for Santa Barbara in game two, as the Gauchos stranded ten runners in the one run loss. UCSB had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings but was not able to capitalize.

Freshman Carly Harmon suffered the loss and falls to 17-8 despite giving up just five hits on the day. Lindsay Knoff picked up the win for LBSU and improves to 12-9 on the year.

A time, date, and site for game three of the rain-delayed series is yet to be determined. The Gauchos' next scheduled game is a doubleheader on Friday, May 9th at Cal State Fullerton at 5:00 p.m.