March 7, 2007

Final Stats

MORAGA, Calif. - Senior right-hander Lindsay Tognetti struck out a career-best 15 batters and scattered three hits across seven complete innings to lead UC Davis to a 3-0 win in the nightcap of a collegiate softball doubleheader against Saint Mary's at Cottrell Field Wednesday. The victory salvaged a twinbill split for the Aggies, who lost the opener by a 6-4 final.

UC Davis moves to 9-8-1 for the season. The Gaels are now 7-10 overall.

The Aggies jumped out early in Game 2 as freshman Tiffany Dueck sent a one-out single to center, then Nikki Sheldon and Sarah O'Neill loaded the bases on back-to-back errors by SMC shortstop Lauren Clark. Menapace capitalized on the defensive miscues by ripping a double to right field, scoring Dueck and Sheldon. UC Davis tacked on another run in the fifth, again with the aid of a Gael error. Menapace reached on a two-out, two-base error by center fielder Lauren Mello, scoring O'Neill.

Meanwhile, Tognetti struck out 15 Saint Mary's batters to earn her first shutout of the year. She carried a no-hitter through four innings, then surrendered a harmless single in each of the last three frames. Additionally, Tognetti struck out the side in the Gael third and fifth. The strikeout total bests her previous high of 13, set in 2006 against Tennessee, and misses Amy Rosson's school record by one.

In Game 1 of the doubleheader, Saint Mary's employed a four-run fifth to erase an early 4-0 deficit en route to a 6-4 win. O'Neill put UC Davis on the board in the first inning with a two-run homer, then second baseman Julie Stauder launched a triple down the right field line to score Trish Paine in the third. Freshman Sarah Axelson scored Menapace on an RBI single in the third to extend the Aggie advantage to four runs.

Saint Mary's began its comeback in the bottom of that third inning as Mello singled to left, stole second, then scored on a Megan Galloway base hit. However, the Aggies quelled the initial threat by turning a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The Gaels struck again in the fifth as Katherine Delpit's bases-loaded double scored Mello and catcher Sadie Dolcini, cutting the UC Dvais lead to a single run. Junior Melissa Barretto tied up the game two batters later with a sacrifice fly, then Bergeson put the Gaels up for good with an RBI single that sent Delpit home.

Galloway earned the win despite allowing the initial four runs. Senior left-hander Lauren Gardner fired a perfect sixth and seventh to earn the save for Saint Mary's.

UC Davis returns to action in the National Invitational Softball Tournament in San Jose from March 9-11. The Aggies open tournament action with a 1 p.m. game against UNC-Charlotte on Friday.

GAME 1

Jessica Hancock, Lauren Pieretti (5) and Deanna Menapace. Megan Galloway, Lauren Gardner (6) and Sadie Dolcini, Jenna Smith (6). Win - Galloway. Loss - Hancock (4-4). Save - Gardner. Hitters - UC Davis: Julie Stauder 1x2, 3B, RBI; Sarah O'Neill 1x3, HR, 2 RBI; Deanna Menapace 1x3, 2B; Sarah Axelson 1x3, RBI; Natalie Moss 1x3. SMC: Molly Bergeson 3x4, RBI; Lauren Clark 1x4, Lauren Mello 2x3, 2B; Megan Galloway 2x3, RBI; Chelsea Loftis 1x1, RBI; Katherine Delpit 2x4, 2B, 2 RBI; Heidi Eisenbies 1x1; Melissa Barretto 1x2, RBI.

GAME 2

Lindsay Tognetti and Deanna Menapace; Chelsea Loftis, Kate Albaugh (7) and Jenna Smith. Win - Tognetti (4-3). Loss - Loftis. Save - none. Hitters - UC Davis: Tiffany Dueck 1x3; Sarah O'Neill 1x4; Deanna Menapace 1x4, 2B, 2 RBI; Sarah Axelson 1x3, Mandi Salcido 1x3. SMC: Molly Bergeson 1x3, Chelsea Loftis 1x3, Jenna Smith 1x3.