Feb. 16, 2008

Missouri 7, UC Davis 1
Wisconsin 5, UC Davis 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - UC Davis was defeated by both Missouri and Wisconsin, Saturday, on the second day of action at the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas. In the afternoon, Missouri defeated the Aggies, 7-1. In the evening, Wisconsin posted a 5-2 victory. Ashley Johnson homered for UC Davis (4-5) against Missouri.

Missouri took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a run-scoring double by Kathyrn Poet. Two innings later, Jen Bruck hit a two-run homer with one out to make it 3-0 Missouri. The Tigers added an unearned run in the fourth to lead 4-0.

It remained 4-0 into the fifth before the Aggies closed within three. With one out, Johnson blasted a pinch-hit home run to cut the lead to 4-1. It was Johnson's second homer of the season. She hit her first, a grand slam, in the Aggies' season opener against Utah State.

In the sixth, Bruck hit another two-run homer to give the Tigers a 6-1 lead. Julie Silver's RBI-groundout in the seventh accounted for Missouri's final run.

Missouri, which outhit UC Davis 8-4, improved to 4-4 on the year. Jana Hainey struck out five and walked one in a complete-game win. Jessica Hancock (2-3) suffered the loss for the Aggies despite striking out a season-high 11. Offensively, Michelle Espiritu, Deanna Menapace and Trish Paine also had hits for the Aggies.

Wisconsin (4-4) was helped by home runs from Joey Daniels and Lynn Anderson. The Aggies took a 1-0 lead in the second before the Badgers responded with two in the bottom of the inning. Wisconsin added another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead. UC Davis scored its final run in the seventh.

Espiritu and Erin Emde each drove in runs against Wisconsin. Tracy Dean, O'Neill, Alex Holmes and Paine each had singles. Holmes suffered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.

UC Davis closes out the tournament Sunday morning against Illinois.