HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara opened its season with a 5-1 victory over Southern Mississippi on Friday at Pete Taylor Park.

The Gauchos scored early on a first-inning sacrifice fly by Husovsky and added two more in the fourth on Ivan Karliner’s two-run single to right-center. Southern Mississippi avoided the shutout in the eighth on Slade Morrison’s solo home run, but UCSB’s Zander Kelly answered with a two-run homer to deep center in the ninth.

UCSB starter Chase Hoover earned the win, combining with three relievers to limit the Golden Eagles to six hits. Southern Mississippi’s Kros Sivley took the loss. The Gauchos outhit the Golden Eagles 11-6.

UC Santa Barbara begins the season 1-0. Southern Mississippi starts 0-1. The teams continue their three-game series Saturday.