Jackson Flora improves to 4-0 as Gauchos edge Long Beach State in Big West opener
Mike Klan
UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – UCSB ace Jackson Flora battled through a tough first inning to pitch UCSB to a 4-3 win over Long Beach State in the Big West opener for both teams.
The Gauchos have won eight straight games to move to 10-2 on the year.
After allowing two runs in the first inning, Flora shut down the Dirt Bags after that working six innings to improve to 4-0 on the year.
Flora allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out 7.
UCSB used a three-run fifth inning and took the lead for good on a two-run home run by Cole Kosciusko.
(Kosciusko celebrates his first home run on the season. Entenza Design).
The Gauchos extended their lead to 4-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Rowan Kelly who finished with 3 hits and 2 runs batted in.
The Gauchos bullpen worked the final three innings, allowing just one run as AJ Krodel pitching a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.
(San Marcos High School alum Chase Hoover pitched out of a seventh inning jam striking out two batters as Long Beach left the bases loaded. Entenza Design).