RIVERSIDE, Calif. (Interstat) — The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos rode a dominant start from Calvin Proskey and a relentless offensive attack to an 11-6 victory over the California Baptist Lancers on Monday at Riverside Sports Complex, defying a national projection that favored the home team.

The game’s most critical phase was its beginning, as Proskey set an immediate tone of control. The Gauchos’ starter delivered four perfect innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. His outing extended a scoreless streak, following three shutout innings against UCLA on April 14, and stifled a Lancers lineup that entered the game with a 31-10 record.

UC Santa Barbara’s hitters provided ample support, building a lead methodically. They scored once in the first inning on an RBI single from Nate Vargas, added an unearned run in the second on an RBI double from Xavier Esquer, and tacked on another in the third for a 3-0 advantage.

The Gauchos broke the game open in the fourth inning. With two runners in scoring position, shortstop Corey Nunez delivered a two-run single up the middle, pushing the lead to 5-0. The offense continued to pressure California Baptist’s bullpen, adding a run in the fifth and another in the sixth on a solo home run by Liam Barrett, who finished the day a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs.

UC Santa Barbara’s pitching staff maintained its grip on the game after Proskey’s exit. Reliever Josh Jannicelli followed with 3 2/3 strong innings, allowing no hits while striking out five, though two unearned runs would later be charged to his line. The combination of Proskey and Jannicelli held the Lancers without a hit for the game’s first 7 2/3 innings.

California Baptist’s offense, held silent for so long, erupted in the bottom of the eighth inning to create the game’s dramatic turning point. Trailing 8-0, Ryder Dykstra broke up the no-hit bid and shutout with a solo home run. The Lancers then sent 10 men to the plate, rallying for five more runs. Cole Hansen keyed the surge with a two-run double, and Bryce McFeely capped it with a two-run homer, suddenly slicing the deficit to 8-6 and bringing the potential tying run to the plate.

UC Santa Barbara manager Thomas Ford turned to Chase Hoover out of the bullpen, who promptly struck out pinch-hitter Camden Andrew looking to end the threat. Hoover then worked a scoreless ninth to secure the win.

The Gauchos responded immediately in the top of the ninth, reclaiming momentum and sealing the victory with three insurance runs. Pinch-hitter Noah Karliner drove in one with a single, Barrett added a sacrifice fly, and Esquer notched his second RBI of the day with a single, finalizing the 11-6 margin.

UC Santa Barbara improved to 26-12 overall, collecting 15 hits in the process. California Baptist fell to 31-10 despite its six-run, 10-hit output, all coming in the final two innings. The result flipped the pregame projection from Interstat, whose simulator had predicted a 7-6 Lancers victory, though its ELO rating system gave UC Santa Barbara a 66.5% win probability.

The Gauchos open a three-game home series with Cal State Fullerton on Friday. The Lancers will host Utah Tech for a three-game set beginning the same day.