SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The USF baseball team put together a mini rally in the ninth inning that produced two runs, but ultimately it wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit in a 7-3 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon.
 
USF (0-4) got RBIs from Dan James (1-for-4) and Blake Valley (0-for-2) to lead the offense.
 
Dons' starter Grant Goodman (0-1) went 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking two in the loss.
 
The Dons got the bases loaded to start the top of the second after Dominic Miroglio led off with a walk, Manny Ramirez, Jr. punished a double deep into the left center gap and Brady Bate beat out a slow roller to shortstop. The next batter, Aaron Ping, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Miroglio scored on the play, giving the Dons an early 1-0 lead. 
 
UCSB (4-0) answered the next half inning by getting runners in scoring position with one out that setup Clay Fisher's sacrifice fly to center that brought home a run and tied the game at 1-1.
 
The next Gaucho hitter, Ryan Clark, laced a base hit to center that looked destined to bring in another UCSB run, but USF center fielder Matt Siantro's throw was on a line to nail Josh Adams at the plate and end the inning.
 
The bottom of the third saw UCSB take a 2-1 lead when Andrew Calica led off the inning by ripping a double into right field that was bobbled by USF right fielder Brady Bate, opening up the window for Calica to stretch it into a triple. On the play, Ping's relay throw skipped past third baseman James and out of play, allowing Calica to score.
 
The Gauchos moved further ahead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth after getting the bases loaded with no outs against USF reliever James Kannenberg. UCSB plated one on a sac fly by Kyle Plantier, followed by a two-run single off the bat of Adams that was laced to shortstop.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, freshman right-hander Joey Steele came on in relief of Kannenberg with two outs and a runner on second and gave up a home run to right center to Adams that increased the Gauchos' lead to 7-1. 
 
USF got the first two hitters aboard to start the ninth, leading to an RBI single through the right side by James that cut the deficit to 7-2. Then, with one out and the bases loaded, Valley lined a shot that looked like it was headed into right field, but a diving stop by UCSB first baseman Plantier prevented multiple runs from scoring - instead just one run came across for the Dons on the play.
 
Riley Helland had a chance to keep the rally going with runners on first and third, but flew out to center field to end the game.
 
Gaucho starter Joe Record (1-0) earned the win with 7.0 innings of work where he recorded five strikeouts with one walk while allowing one run on three hits.  
 
JJ Muno (2-for-4, R) and Josh Adams (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI) paced the Gauchos' offense.
 
 
 
NOTES: Starting RHP Grant Goodman made his first appearance since 2014 following Tommy John surgery… RHP James Kannenberg made his USF debut by throwing 2.2 innings of relief -  Kannenberg is slated as the Dons' closer this year… the Dons led at some point in two of the four games this weekend… USF hit .244 as a team over the weekend, led by Blake Valley (4-for-9, 3B, 5 RBI) and Brady Bate (4-for-9, R, 2B).  
 
UP NEXT: The Dons travel across the Bay on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest at Cal. The Cal Bears came into the year ranked anywhere from No. 8 to No. 13 in the various preseason polls.