Feb. 17, 2008

Final Stats

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - UC Davis scored four runs in the second inning and went on defeat Illinois, 7-1, Sunday to close out action at the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. Deanna Menapace hit her first home run of the season as the Aggies pounded out five extra-base hits. The win improved UC Davis to 5-5 on the year while Illinois dropped to 5-5.

"This was a huge win for us. We just came out firing and found some holes in the defense and had some great at bats," said UC Davis head coach Karen Yoder. "Our hitters really battled."

UC Davis opened its scoring early as Michelle Espiritu led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. Trish Paine advanced Espiritu to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Julie Stauder did the same to put Espiritu on third base with two outs. Tracy Dean came up with the inning's big hit with a double to left center to drive in Espiritu and give the Aggies a 1-0 lead.

The Aggies broke the game open in the second with four more runs on four hits. Erin Emde led off with a double and came around to score on an infield single by Alex Holmes to make it 2-0. After a walk by Sarah O'Neill, Lindsey Jones singled to left to drive in Holmes and up the lead to 3-0. After a pitching change and with one out, Paine doubled to right field to drive in O'Neill. That gave UC Davis a 4-0 lead. With Stauder at bat, Jones scored on a wild pitch to complete the four-run inning.

The Illini scored their only run in the top of the third before Menapace gave UC Davis its five-run lead back in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off homer to left. The blast put UC Davis on top 6-1. In the fifth, Stauder led off with a double and later scored the Aggies' final run on a wild pitch.

UC Davis outhit Illinois, 9-3, including four doubles and Menapace's homer. Nine Aggies had one hit apiece.

In the circle, Jessica Hancock (3-3) allowed one run on three hits in a complete-game victory. She walked five and struck out five. She didn't allow a hit until the third inning and gave up just one more in the final four innings. Hancock retired the side in order in the first, fourth and seventh innings. Besides the run Illinois scored in the third, the only other threat came in the fifth. The Illini had the bases loaded with two outs, but Shanna Diller grounded out to end the inning.

UC Davis played five games in the three-day tournament against teams from some of the top conferences in the nation. The Aggies faced Seton Hall to start the tournament before taking on UTEP, Missouri and Wisconsin prior to Sunday's finale against Illinois.

"We finished 2-3 but I'm extremely proud," added Yoder. "We were challenged by some high-caliber teams, and I was proud of the way we finished the tournament with this win against Illinois."

UC Davis next faces Saint Mary's Tuesday afternoon in a home-opening doubleheader with the Gaels. The first game begins at 1 p.m. at La Rue Field.