6-17, 0-4
UC Santa Barbara
13-15, 4-0
Mustangs Drop Saturday Pair to UC Santa Barbara
3/14/2026 6:18:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Freshman third baseman Leilani Allen’s second-inning, RBI single tied the Cal Poly softball program’s Saturday doubleheader opener against UC Santa Barbara, but the Gauchos scored once more in the fourth and twice during the seventh as the Mustangs fell, 4-1. Cal Poly also dropped Saturday’s second matchup, 8-0 (five innings), trailing from the onset after Gauchos left fielder Emily Carr hit a first-inning grand slam.
During Saturday’s opening matchup, UC Santa Barbara (14-15, 5-0) scored the opening run during the top of the first inning through a Mustang throwing error before Cal Poly equalized in the bottom of the second after Allen lined her one-out single to right center to plate pinch runner Sehren Martinez.
Cal Poly starting freshman righthander Kaylee Davis stranded two Gauchos to complete the top of the third. In the fourth, however, UC Santa Barbara loaded the bases with one down through a single, Cal Poly throwing error and a hit by pitch. Davis forced a foul out from center fielder Dani Rauscher, but facing shortstop Tehya Banks with two down, Davis was charged with back-to-back illegal pitches – the second of which counted as ball four to Banks and forced home first baseman Jaelyn Toledo for the eventual winning run.
The Gauchos added their final two runs in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring.
Held hitless by UC Santa Barbara starting righthander Sophia Clark (6-4) between the third and sixth innings, Cal Poly enjoyed a leadoff single from freshman designated player Myleigh Cooper (above) to open the seventh. Clark, however, retired the next two Mustangs before pinch runner Karina Choi was thrown out at second on an attempted steal to end the matchup.
During Saturday’s second matchup, UC Santa Barbara loaded the bases with one down during the top of the first before Carr hit a grand slam that bounced off the top of the left field wall and over for a 4-0 Gauchos lead.
UC Santa Barbara added another run in the third – designated player Ainsley Waddell singling home right fielder Giselle Mejia – before Carr produced a two-run single in the fourth to hand UC Santa Barbara a 7-0 lead. Banks then scored on a fifth-inning wild pitch to place the matchup in run-rule territory.
Cal Poly’s best opportunity to break through against UC Santa Barbara starting righthander Malaya Johnson (6-6) occurred during the fourth, as sophomore catcher Maya Venegas followed freshman designated player Karina Choi’s leadoff single with a one-out base hit. However, Martinez – pinch running for Venegas – was caught stealing and Johnson struck out Cooper to end the threat.
Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara complete the three-game series on Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clark, Sophia (6-4)
L: Davis, Kaylee (2-9)
Batting:
2B: Ma'ae, Delaina 1 ; Toledo, Jaelyn 1
RBI: Banks, Tehya 1 ; Toledo, Jaelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Garcia, Kaylin 1 ; Ma'ae, Delaina 1 ; Rauscher, Dani 1 ; Toledo, Jaelyn 1
HBP: Santos, Jazzy 1
Batting:
RBI: Allen, Leilani 1
SH: Garza, Mylina 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Martinez, Sehren 1
SB: Barrios, Aly 1
CS: Choi, Karina 1
