Feb. 26, 2011
Box Score
DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis baseball team scored three runs in the fifth inning, then tacked on another run in the seventh to take a 4-2 win over the University of San Francisco on Saturday at Dobbins Stadium in Davis.
UC Davis snapped a two-game losing streak and improves to 2-3 while USF remains winless at 0-5.
In the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Eric Johnson singled up the middle, then advanced to second after Scott Heylman singled to USF pitcher Matt Lujan. Heylman hit a line drive that hit Lujan in the arm, forcing him to leave the game after the next batter.
WIth two outs in the inning, Daniel Cepin hit a single that fell into center field and allowed Johnson and Heylman to score and tie the game. Brett Morgan followed that by doubling down the left field line to bring home Cepin and give the Aggies the 3-2 lead.
San Francisco nearly took the lead back in the sixth inning after Aggie starting pitcher Dayne Quist gave up three hits to load the bases with only one out. David Popkins entered the game to relieve Quist and forced the first batter he faced, Adam Clear, to hit into a double play to end the inning.
Heylman led off the seventh inning with a right field single, then advanced to third on sacrifices from Adam Young and Scott Kalush. Cepin's base hit brought Heylman home, giving UC Davis a 4-2 advantage.
After getting the Aggies out of the sixth, Popkins did not allow a hit and gave up only one base when he walked Travis Higgs in the seventh inning. The righty retired the next five straight before relinquishing the mound to Tom Briner at the top of the ninth.
Pete Lavin led off for the Dons in the ninth and reached first base after freshman shortstop Young mishandled Lavin's line drive and was given the error. Briner, however, struck out the next three batters to earn his second save of the year.
Cepin went 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs for UC Davis while Morgan was 2-for-4 with an RBI on the day. Johnson and Heylman each hit 2-for-4 as well.
Tom Barry led USF offensively, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI while Connor Bernatz and Lavin each recorded two hits.
Quist retired six batters in his 5.1 innings of work to earn the win and move to 1-1 on the year. Haden Hinkle, who replaced Lujan in the fifth, took his first loss of the year.
UC Davis and San Francisco conclude the three-game series Sunday at Benedetti Diamond with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
SAN FRANCISCO 001 100 000 - 2 8 0
UC DAVIS 000 030 10X - 4 10 3
Matt Lujan, Haden Hinkle (5), Garrett Luippold (5), Cameron Love (8) and Travis Higgs. Dayne Quist, David Popkins (6), Tom Briner (9) and Scott Kalush.
Win: Quist (1-1). Loss: Hinkle (0-1). Save: Briner (2)
Hitters: San Francisco: Connor Bernatz, 2x4; Pete Lavin, 2x5; Adam Clear, 0x4, RBI; Travis Higgs, 1x3; Nik Balog, 1x3; Tom Barry, 2x4, RBI. UC Davis: Daniel Cepin, 2x2, 3RBI; Brett Morgan, 2x4, 2B, RBI; Paul Politi, 1x4; Eric Johnson, 2x4; Scott Heylman, 2x4; Scott Kalush, 1x3.
