May 6, 2007
Final Stats
LONG BEACH, Calif. - UC Davis picked up its 30th victory of the season Sunday by defeating Long Beach State, 2-1, in the rubber game of a three-game series. Trish Paine, who went 2-for-4, singled with two outs in the top of the seventh to drive in Mandi Salcido with what turned out to be the winning run. With the victory, the Aggies improved to 30-24-1 and won their third series this season against a Big West Conference team. It was the second such series won by UC Davis on the road. Jessica Hancock won her second game in as many days with a complete-game eight-hitter.
Paine figured in both runs for the Aggies as she led off the third and reached on an error. Julie Stauder followed with her second RBI-double of the series to drive in Paine and make it 1-0. Long Beach State starter Bridgette Pagano was able to avoid further damage by retiring the next three Aggies she faced.
The 49ers wasted little time getting the run back as a one-out rally in the bottom of the inning produced the tying run. With two runners on and two outs, Brianna Goad doubled to drive in Panita Thanatharn to tie the game at 1-1. Hancock struck out Franciska Morlet with runners at second and third to end the inning.
Neither team advanced a runner past second through the next three innings. The best scoring opportunity during that stretch came from the Aggies in the sixth as Nikki Sheldon led off with a single, and Deanna Menapace followed with a walk. Pagano, though, was the benefactor of a bunt pop-up and a line drive double play to end the threat.
In the seventh, Salcido doubled on a 1-2 pitch with one out to start the rally. Tiffany Dueck sacrificed Salcido to third base for the second out of the inning. Paine then delivered a single to center to drive in Salcido and make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hancock gave up a one-out single to Pagano, who was later stranded at second when Hancock struck out Morlett for the final out.
Overall, Hancock (15-12) continues to shine in the circle. She scattered eight hits on Sunday with nine strikeouts and four walks. Over her past three starts, she has posted a 0.85 ERA. That includes allowing just three earned runs in 24.2 innings. During that same span, she has given up 14 hits and struck out 30 batters.
Long Beach State (26-24) outhit UC Davis, 8-6.
UC Davis returns home for its final four games. The homestand begins Tuesday when the Aggies host No. 16 Stanford at 3 p.m. It concludes with a three-game series against Cal State Northridge on Friday and Saturday.
