AUSTIN, Texas (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara defeated Tarleton State 9-5 in an afternoon playoff game Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The Gauchos improved to 40-19; the Texans fell to 38-21.

UC Santa Barbara struck first in the top of the first inning, scoring two unearned runs on a throwing error by the Tarleton pitcher. Cole Kosciusko homered to right center in the second inning and Jonah Karliner followed with a solo shot to left. The Gauchos extended the lead in the fourth when Rowan Kelly grounded out to drive in Kosciusko.

Tarleton State got on the board in the third on an RBI single by C. McCloud. Slade McCloud tripled in two runs in the seventh, cutting the deficit to 4-3. But UC Santa Barbara answered in the eighth as Kelly hit a three-run homer and Nate Vargas doubled in a run, making it 9-3.

The Texans rallied in the ninth, scoring twice on an RBI groundout by Slade McCloud and a run-scoring single by R. Heinrich, but fell short. UC Santa Barbara outhit Tarleton State 14-9.