6-19, 0-6
UC Santa Barbara
15-15, 6-0
Mustangs Fall in Series Finale to UC Santa Barbara
3/15/2026 4:29:00 PM | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Freshman first baseman Myleigh Cooper’s two-run single in the first inning provided the Cal Poly softball program an early lead against UC Santa Barbara during Sunday’s series finale, but the Gauchos scored nine times without reply in the 9-2 decision.
Mustang starting freshman righthander Kaylee Davis struck out Gauchos catcher Delaina Ma’ae with the bases loaded to close the top half of the first and the Mustangs surged ahead at the first opportunity as Cooper singled home freshman designated player Karina Choi and sophomore second baseman Sienna Erskine (above) with one down.
UC Santa Barbara, however, responded during the top of the second with Davis initially walking three Gauchos before a fourth walk drawn by right fielder Giselle Mejia forced home first baseman Jaelyn Toledo. UC Santa Barbara designated player Ainsley Waddell next delivered a two-run single for the 3-2 edge.
The Gauchos stretched the lead to 4-2 in the third with Ma’ae hitting her fifth homer of the season to right center. UC Santa Barbara then ran the lead to 8-2 with a four-run fourth punctuated by a two-run single from second baseman Jazzy Santos. The Gauchos finalized the scoring with a final run in the fifth.
Cal Poly’s best opportunity to cut into UC Santa Barbara’s lead occurred during the bottom half of the fifth with Choi and Erskine producing back-to-back leadoff singles. The next two Mustangs, however, hit into fielder’s choices before freshman third baseman Leilani Allen grounded out to end the inning.
Cooper finished with two of Cal Poly’s six hits Sunday.
Cal Poly continues action with a three-game, March 21-22 series at CSUN. Play opens with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 21.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Myers, Ella (2-2)
L: Davis, Kaylee (2-10)
Batting:
2B: Banks, Tehya 1 ; Benitez, Cat 1
HR: Ma'ae, Delaina 1
RBI: Waddell, Ainsley 3 ; Mejia, Giselle 1 ; Ma'ae, Delaina 1 ; Santos, Jazzy 2 ; Toledo, Jaelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Banks, Tehya 3 ; Carr, Emily 1 ; Terrazas, Katie 1 ; Ma'ae, Delaina 1 ; Santos, Jazzy 1 ; Toledo, Jaelyn 2
SB: Banks, Tehya 1
HBP: Carr, Emily 1
Batting:
RBI: Cooper, Myleigh 2
SH: Erskine, Sienna 1 ; Venegas, Maya 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Choi, Karina 1 ; Erskine, Sienna 1
