Feb. 17, 2001
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara (3-3) used a three-run first inning to go ahead early and held on for a 10-3 win over visiting Santa Clara (1-8) Saturday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
Sophomore lefthanded pitcher Jim Bullard used UCSB's three early runs and three more in the sixth, while only allowing three runs himself in six innings, to earn his first win of the year. Bullard surrendered seven Bronco hits, striking out two and walking one. Senior Jamie Gonzales threw three innings of relief, giving up only one hit and walking two en route to his first save of the season.
"Today's game really didn't look like a 10-3 game," said Bronco head coach Mike Cummins. "Our pitching looked solid, with the exception of the first inning and we were making contact with the ball. I was pleased with the way we hit the ball, but we just weren't putting it into play. We hit too many fly balls and didn't get any line drive singles. It came down to the fact that they had more offensive firepower than we did today."
Santa Clara threw five hurlers. The Gauchos knocked out freshman starter Kellen McConnell after a third of an inning. Dave Mallen then came on and was later charged with the loss.
Jack Headley, Matt Queen and Mike Balestreri each had two hits for Santa Clara. Queen also had two RBI.
The teams will play the third game of their three-game series Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
