Box Score March 9, 2008
Final Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. - Deanna Menapace drove in two runs, and Jessica Hancock struck out 10 to help lead UC Davis to a 5-4 victory over Utah, Sunday morning, in the Aggies' final game at the Diamond Devil Invitational. Trish Paine went 2-for-3 to extend her hitting streak to nine games. Tracy Dean also collected two hits on the day as UC Davis improved to 15-13 on the year.
The Aggies began the scoring in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Dean led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Ashley Johnson. After Dean stole third, Jenny Corbett laced a double down the left field line to drive in Dean with the first run. With two outs, Corbett stole third and scored on a Michelle Espiritu single to make it 2-0. The Aggies scored an unearned run in the third to go up 3-0.
Meanwhile, Hancock was dominating the Utes' lineup. She had nine strikeouts through the first four innings and allowed just two first inning hits entering the fifth inning. That's when Utah (10-10) broke through with its first run to close within 3-1.
In the sixth, UC Davis extended its lead courtesy of Menapace's hot bat. Lindsey Jones led off and reached on an error before advancing to second on a sacrifice by Espiritu. Paine singled to put runners at first and third and promptly stole second. After Julie Stauder was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Menapace delivered a two-run single to put the Aggies up 5-1.
Kara Foster hit a solo home run in the sixth to draw Utah within 5-2, and the Utes rallied for two more runs in the seventh before Hancock retired Foster on a groundout with the potential tying run on third base.
Menapace has driven in nine runs over her past four games and is hitting .583 over the past nine games. She leads UC Davis with 24 RBIs, which is three shy of her total last year as a sophomore.
Hancock struck out at least 10 for the fifth time this season and improved to 10-7 on the year. She allowed six hits and walked just one.
UC Davis is next in action Thursday when it hosts Nevada in a doubleheader at La Rue Field. The first game begins at 1:30 p.m.
