April 5, 2008

UC Davis 2, Pacific 1 (Game 1)
Pacific 5, UC Davis 4 (Game 2)

STOCKTON, Calif. - Sarah Axelson and Bianca Castillo each homered for UC Davis as the Aggies split a pair of one-run games with host Pacific, Saturday, in a Big West Conference softball doubleheader at Bill Simoni Field. UC Davis defeated Pacific, 2-1, in the first game before the Tigers held on for a 5-4 victory in the second game. Jessica Hancock fired a complete-game four-hitter to help give the Aggies the game one win.

UC Davis (16-25, 1-4 Big West) took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one. Michelle Espiritu led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a one-out sacrifice by Julie Stauder. With two outs, Deanna Menapace laced an RBI-double to right, driving in Espiritu with the game's first run.

It stayed a one-run game into the third inning. That's when Stauder started a two-out rally with a single. Menapace followed with a walk. With Erin Emde at the plate, Stauder stole third base and came around to score on a throwing error to make it 2-0.

It would remain a 2-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh as Pacific's Lauren Weyman led off with a solo home run to account for the final scoring of the game.

The homer was the only extra-base hit allowed by Hancock, who struck out four with three walks. The junior picked up her 11th win of the season.

All of the scoring in game two took place in the first three innings. The Tigers struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The big hit was a two-run single by Alyce Jorgensen with one out. Pacific would add an unearned run later in the frame to take a 3-0 lead into the second.

It didn't take long for the Aggies to tie the game. Emde, who had three hits on the day, led off with a single. With one out, Axelson launched her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to pull UC Davis within 3-2. The next batter, Castillo, also homered to left to tie the game at 3-3. It was the first collegiate hit for the freshman.

The early offense continued for Pacific in the second inning. Brittany Hendrickson had an RBI-triple to put the Tigers on top, 4-3. Later in the inning, Nicole Matson delivered a run-scoring infield single to make it 5-3.

The Aggies pulled within 5-4 in the third inning on an RBI-single by Emde, which scored Stauder. That would be all, however, for both teams the rest of the way. Starting with the bottom of the third, the Aggies and Tigers combined for just one hit the rest of the game.

UC Davis and Pacific had a total of 11 hits each on the day. Emde led the Aggies with her three hits, and Stauder collected two.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday at noon.