SANTA BARBARA, Calif. ? UC Santa Barbara used the long ball to sweep a softball doubleheader from CSUB, 7?0 and 4?1 Wednesday afternoon at Campus Diamond.

UCSB (17?14 overall), a 2007 NCAA Division I Regional qualifier, hit four home runs in the doubleheader to power its way to the sweep. CSUB (12?16) pitching had allowed just nine home runs in the first 26 games of the season.

The Gaucho power surge began early when centerfield Tiffany Wright hit a solo home run in the first inning of the opener. Jessica Beristianos and Ericka Hansen added solo shots in the fourth inning to extend UCSB's lead to 3?0. The Gauchos put the game away by scoring four runs on five hits in the fifth.

Bakersfield had its chances, but UCSB starter Lindsey Correa pitched out of trouble admirably all afternoon, stranding 10 base runners to complete the shutout.
The Roadrunners appeared to right their offensive ship in game two when Cara Klein's RBI single was the payoff to Bethany Snow's leadoff double in the first inning. Freshman starter Kristen Schlegel made that run stand up early by tossing four shutout innings to open the game.

But things came apart for CSUB in the fifth when Hansen led off with her second home run of the afternoon. Beristianos delivered the coup des grace with a two?out, two?run double to cap the four?run explosion.

Snow, Klein and Pikake Nutter?Gaudet all hit safely in both games to highlight Bakersfield's day at the plate. Beristianos had four hits and four RBI to lead UCSB.

CSUB returns home Saturday for a doubleheader against the University of San Diego. First pitch is scheduled for Noon at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

BATTERIES: Johnson, Truan (5) and Taylor; Correa and Hansen. WP ? Lindsey Correa (8-4). LP ? Bethany Johnson (8-8).
2B ? Wright (SB). HR ? Wright (SB, 3), Beristianos (SB, 4), Hansen (SB, 2).

BATTERIES: Schlegel, Chavez (6) and Taylor; Weston and Hansen. WP ? Tami Weston (5-2). LP ? Kristen Schlegel (0-1).
2B ? Snow (CSUB), Duran (SB), Churnock (SB). HR ? Hansen (SB, 3).