March 11, 2011
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Anthony Kupbens allowed only one unearned run on four hits and struck out seven and the UC Davis baseball team snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Milwaukee on Friday at the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament.
UC Davis moves to 3-10 overall while Milwaukee falls to 1-9.
The Aggies scattered their three hits over three innings, starting with a run from Scott Kalush in the second. With two outs, Kalush doubled to left center field then scored off an RBI single from Seth Batty.
The offensive momentum continued into the third as, with two outs again, Paul Politi walked, stole second, then scored on an error from Milwaukee third baseman Alex Erdmann, giving the Aggies a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, Batty led off by laying down a successful bunt, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Brett Morgan. Scott Heylman's base hit advanced Batty to third and the sophomore came around to score on a groundout by David Popkins.
Batty finished 2-for-2 with an RBI while Morgan was 2-for-4 and Heylman went 2-for-3.
Milwaukee broke up the 3-0 lead with a run in the sixth after Jonathan Capasso and Chad Pierce reached base on back-to-back errors by the Aggies. Capasso came around to score on a long fly out by Sam Sivilotti.
Kupbens did not allow an earned run, gave up only four hits, struck out seven and walked only one batter in his 7.2 innings on the mound. He allowed a base hit to Capasso in the very first at bat of the game, but retired the next 10 straight until giving up another base hit in the fourth.
After that single, the junior lefty held the Panthers hitless through the next three innings. After striking out Tell Taylor to start the eighth inning, Kupbens gave up two hits and was replaced by right-handed pitcher Tom Briner.
Briner continued Kupbens' success on the mound, striking out Sivilotti to get out of the eighth, then holding Milwaukee hitless to preserve UC Davis' 3-1 victory.
Kupbens moves to 1-2 on the year with the win while Briner picked up his third save of the year.
UC Davis takes on San Jose State on Saturday at Municipal Stadium as the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament continues. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
