May 11, 2007
Cal State Northridge 4, UC Davis 1 (Game 1)
UC Davis 1, Cal State Northridge 0 (Game 2)
DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis and Cal State Northridge split a doubleheader Friday afternoon at La Rue Field. All five runs of the first game scored on home runs as the Matadors defeated the Aggies, 4-1. UC Davis came back to win the second game, 1-0, behind a two-hit shutout by Jessica Hancock. The split gives UC Davis a 31-26-1 record heading into Saturday's season finale. Five different Aggies collected hits on the day. Amanda Peek hit two home runs for Cal State Northridge (22-21-1). Each team combined for a total of six hits.
Hancock's efforts in the second game included retiring 12 of the first 13 batters she faced. The only batter to reach base for the Matadors prior to the fifth inning was Jackie Duree, who singled with one out in the first. The only significant threat Hancock faced was in the fifth when Jaclyn Rymer led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice. After a groundout and a hit batter, Sarah Kahn-Shamout hit a grounder that ricocheted off the foot of Hancock and into the glove of Mandi Salcido who stepped on the second base for a force-out to strand two runners.
Offensively, UC Davis needed just one run in the third inning to secure the victory. With one out, Michelle Espiritu walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Trish Paine. Julie Stauder then blooped a double down the right field line to drive in Espiritu with what turned out to be the game's only run.
Only one Matador reached base in the final two innings. Hancock retired the last four batters she faced. She struck out five in the game and did not allow a walk. The win improves the sophomore to 16-12 on the year, and the shutout is her fifth.
The long ball dominated the first game as the teams combined for four home runs. The Matadors started the scoring in the second when Peek led off with a home run to left field to make it 1-0.
The Aggies countered in the bottom of the second when Salcido lifted a solo shot to left with two outs to tie the game at 1-1. It was Salcido's eighth homer of the season.
In the fourth, Peek led off with another home run, her 13th of the year, to give the Matadors a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning with one out, Megan Smith delivered a two-run shot to left center to make it 4-1.
Paine went 2-for-3 in the game for the Aggies. Erin Emde also had a hit.
Hancock pitched 2.2 scoreless and hitless innings in relief in game one. In all, she went 9.2 innings on the day and did not allow a run. She struck out 12 and walked one.
UC Davis will conclude its season Saturday when the two teams meet in the rubber game of the three-game series. Gametime is scheduled for noon. Five Aggies, including Natalie Moss, Lauren Pieretti, Salcido, Nikki Sheldon and Lindsay Tognetti, will be honored prior to the game as part of Senior Day.
In addition, the Aggies will be holding the 3rd Annual UC Davis "Strikeout For Cancer." The fundraiser is designed to benefit the UC Davis Cancer Center and to help the fight against cancer affecting women. Fans attending the game can help in that cause by making a donation to the UC Davis Cancer Center.
