Feb. 22, 2011
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The UC Davis baseball team rallied to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh after a triple from David Popkins drove in three runs, but San Jose State scored a run in the seventh and eighth innings to edge the Aggies 5-4 Tuesday at Municipal Stadium in San Jose.
The Aggies, playing their fourth game in three days, dropped to 1-3 while San Jose State improved to 3-0.
Down 3-1 entering the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Brett Morgan led off with a double down the left field line, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Scott Kalush and Daniel Cepin picked up back-to-back walks to load the bases for Popkins who brought all three home with a triple into left center field, giving UC Davis a 4-3 lead.
San Jose State quickly tied the game with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Junior righty Ryan Lucas hit the Spartans' lead off batter Michael DiRocco, but struck out Nick Borg and forced Michael Reiling into a ground out for two quick outs. An error on third baseman Paul Politi, however, allowed DiRocco to advance to third and Tim Quiery's RBI single to right field tied the game at four runs apiece.
In the top of the eighth, sophomore Joe Biagini was brought in to replace Lucas, but gave up a single to Danny Stienstra who would come around to score on a double from Tyler Christian.
UC Davis nearly tied the game in the top of the ninth when, with two outs, Popkins hit a single through the right side. Seth Batty entered the game as a pinch runner for Popkins and reached third on a wild pitch and passed ball. Scott Lyman, however, flied out to center field to end the game.
Popkins was 2-for-3 on the day to lead UC Davis offensively, while six other Aggies registered a hit. Stienstra was 2-for-4 with an RBI for San Jose State.
The Aggies took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Scott Kalush singled then came around to score on an RBI single by Scott Heylman.
Biagini was charged with the loss to move to 1-1 on the season while Eric LeBaron got the win to improve to 1-0.
UC Davis returns to action Friday, kicking off a three-game series with San Francisco. The Aggies and Dons will play the first and third games of the series in San Francisco while Saturday's game will be held at Dobbins Stadium.
UC Davis 001 000 300 - 4 8 2 San Jose State 003 000 11X - 5 5 0
Scott Walker, Ryan Lucas (3) and Joe Biagini (8) and Scott Kalush. Esteban Guzman, Johnny Melero (6), Jason Kafka (7), Eric LeBaron (7) and Michael DiRocco. Win - LeBaron (1-0). Loss - Biagini (1-1). Save - None. Hitters: UC Davis - Daniel Cepin, 1x3; Scott Heylman, 1x5, RBI; David Popkins, 2x3, 3B, 3 RBI; Scott Lyman, 1x4; Eric Johnson, 1x4, 2B; Brett Morgan, 1x1, 2B; Scott Kalush, 1x3. San Jose State - Tim Quiery, 1x3, RBI; Zack Jones, 1x4, RBI; Danny Stienstra, 2x4, RBI; Tyler Christian, 1x4, RBI, 2B.
