Gauchos, Gaels Set for Midweek Rematch in Moraga

MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos look to continue their strong start when they visit the Saint Mary’s Gaels for a nonconference baseball game Tuesday evening at Louis Guisto Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures around 61 degrees.

The Gauchos (16-6) enter riding high after an 8-2 road win at Cal Poly on Monday. They have won six of their last eight games and boast a potent offense, evidenced by a 13-3 victory over these same Gaels just two weeks ago in Santa Barbara.

Saint Mary’s (11-11) seeks to even its record after dropping two of three at home to Pepperdine over the weekend, including a 7-1 loss Sunday.

A key matchup will feature UC Santa Barbara right-hander Kellan Montgomery, a player to watch who has been dominant in three of his last four starts. Montgomery (3-1, 3.86 ERA) is coming off a five-inning, one-run performance against Hawaii last Friday. In his March 1 start against Utah, he allowed one run over six innings.

For the Gaels, reliever Luis Martin Romero is a player to watch. The right-hander has been effective in recent short outings, including 2 1/3 scoreless innings against Pepperdine on Sunday. Over his last four appearances, he has allowed just one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.

The Gaels’ bullpen will need to contain a UCSB lineup that has averaged over seven runs per game in its last five contests. Saint Mary’s has shown offensive flashes, scoring nine runs in a win over Pepperdine on Friday, but was held to one run in each of its other two weekend games.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is UC Santa Barbara 6, Saint Mary’s 4.

Following Tuesday’s game, UCSB opens a three-game home series against Oregon on Friday. Saint Mary’s begins West Coast Conference play with a road series at Portland starting Friday.