AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — Jackson Flora and Raymond Olivas combined on a three-hitter and Nate Vargas highlighted a 10-run seventh inning with a grand slam as UC Santa Barbara routed Holy Cross 15-1 on Saturday afternoon at UFCU Disch–Falk Field in an NCAA tournament playoff game.

The Gauchos, who entered the game with an 85.30 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, wasted little time asserting dominance. They scored in the third inning on a walk to Vargas that brought home a run and a bases-loaded walk to Corey Nunez, then added another run on a single by Xavier Esquer. That made it 3-0 and set the stage for the outburst in the seventh.

UC Santa Barbara broke the game open with a 10-run top of the seventh, sending 14 batters to the plate. The inning began with a single by Brody Husovsky, who was replaced by pinch runner James Haferkamp. After a double by Jack Karliner, Jake Barrett singled to score Haferkamp. Rowan Kelly followed with an RBI single, and after a walk to Max Vasseur, Vargas launched a 1-0 pitch over the right-field wall for a grand slam, clearing the bases and pushing the lead to 8-0.

The Gauchos kept the pressure on. A walk to Justin Mendez, a single by Esquer and a single by pinch hitter Kyle Kosciusko brought home another run. Barrett struck out but Kelly singled up the middle for two more runs, though he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. By the time the inning ended, UC Santa Barbara had scored 10 runs on seven hits and two walks.

Holy Cross managed its only run in the bottom of the fifth when third baseman Ryan Grundy homered to right field. It was the Crusaders’ second hit of the game. They finished with three hits total, all singles except for Grundy’s homer.

Flora, the Gauchos’ starting pitcher, worked the first seven innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out nine and walking one. Olivas pitched the final two innings, giving up one hit and striking out three. Holy Cross starter Brett Mulligan took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in three innings. Jake Lenahan, Pedro Leon and others struggled in relief as the Crusaders surrendered 15 runs on 15 hits.

UC Santa Barbara’s offense was relentless. Vargas finished with four RBIs on his grand slam and a walk. Kelly had three hits and three RBIs. Esquer had three hits and two RBIs. Nunez added two hits and an RBI. The Gauchos stole no bases but drew eight walks and were hit by a pitch once.

Holy Cross, which entered the game with a 25-30 record after a 19-1 loss to Texas the previous day, could not match the Gauchos’ firepower. Grundy’s solo homer was the lone highlight for the Crusaders, who also got a single from Michael Royer in the fourth and a single from Brendan Connors in the ninth.

The Gauchos improved to 39-19 with the victory. Holy Cross fell to 25-30. The game was played under overcast skies at the same venue where Texas had beaten Holy Cross the day before.

The most important sequence came in the top of the seventh when UC Santa Barbara erupted for 10 runs. Vargas’ grand slam was the decisive blow, but the inning also featured contributions from Barrett, Kelly, Vasseur, Esquer and Kosciusko. The Gauchos sent 14 batters to the plate and seized complete control of the game, turning a 3-0 lead into a 13-0 advantage before Holy Cross even batted again.

UC Santa Barbara added two more runs in the eighth on a double by Esquer that plated two, and one in the ninth on an error. The Gauchos’ pitching staff allowed only three hits and one run, striking out 12 Crusaders.

The game was a stark contrast to Interstat’s pregame simulation, which had projected a final score of 7-6 in favor of UC Santa Barbara. The Gauchos’ win probability was 85.30 percent according to Interstat’s ELO system, but the actual outcome was far more lopsided than even those odds suggested.