Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Junior catcher Jake Jefferies went 4-for-5 and drove in two runs, and senior pitcher Eddie Gamboa struck out seven batters and allowed only one run in five innings to lead UC Davis to a 4-2 victory over No. 18 Fresno State in a season-opening non-conference baseball game at Beiden Field Friday night. It was the season opener for both teams and the first official Division I contest for the Aggies.

Gamboa combined with juniors Bryan Evans and Justin Fitzgerald to strike out 13 Bulldog batters and hold them to only two runs off four hits. Both Evans and Fitzgerald struck out three batters and allowed only two baserunners and one run. Fitzgerald recorded the save.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the second inning as Ryan Overland connected on a solo homer.

UC Davis scored three runs in the fifth inning to erase the deficit and never relinquished the lead. Senior Ryan Royster opened the scoring for Aggies in the inning with an RBI single to center field to score fellow senior Kevin James from third. Jefferies drove in two more runs with a single to left field that brought home Royster and sophomore transfer Ty Kelly.

Fresno State would score a run in the bottom half of the eighth inning off an RBI ground out from Tommy Sandell to cut the lead to 3-2 heading into the ninth inning.

The Aggies started the ninth with consecutive singles from Jefferies and senior Matt Dempsey. Junior Grant Hirneise was walked to load the bases and Dempsey scored the next play to give the Aggies a two-run cushion. Fitzgerald struck the final two batters looking to close out the historic victory.

The Aggies and Bulldogs will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 12:05 p.m.