SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Nevada baseball trailed by nine runs after two innings and could not overcome the early deficit in a 12-6 loss at No. 20 UC Santa Barbara to close the series Sunday.
Nevada falls to 3-4 overall with the loss and UCSB improves to 5-2 overall with the six-run win. The Pack scratched back with four runs in the final two innings but could not overcome an early deficit in the loss. Nevada drops two-of-three at UC Santa Barbara and prepares to open Mountain West play on Friday, Mar. 4 at Air Force.
UCSB opened the scoring in the first inning with seven runs on seven hits to grab a 7-0 lead through one inning. The Gauchos added to their lead with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second to expand the lead, 9-0.
Nevada got on the board in the fourth inning, when Gomez reached on a two-out single and
Joshua Zamora doubled down the left-field line scoring Gomez and putting a run on the board, 9-1.
The Gauchos regained a nine-run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Leo Mosby singled up the middle off reliever
Boon Fay and Bryce Willits followed with a one-out RBI single scoring Mosby to give UCSB a 10-1 advantage through four innings.
The Pack scored one run in the sixth on an RBI double by
Ryan Jackson, three runs in the eighth on another Jackson single, and a single by pinch-hitter
Jaxon Woodhouse, cutting the deficit to 12-5. Nevada added another run in the top of the ninth when Gomez singled up the middle and Bosetti scored but it wasn't enough as the Pack left a runner on base in the frame and fell 12-6.
Nevada's pitching staff combined to strike out eight Gauchos in the loss.
Alejandro Murillo (L, 0-1) took his first loss of the season after tossing 0.2 innings and allowing seven earned runs.
Kade Morris made his first appearance with the Pack this season, and first since Mar. 29, 2021, against San Jose State. Morris was solid out of the bullpen with two strikeouts over 3.0 innings.
The Pack will be back in action on Friday, Mar. 4 at Air Force to open Mountain West play. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., in the opener of a three-game series.
