March 13, 2011

Final Stats

HAYWARD, Calif. - Alex Holmes hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, extending the game into extra innings where the UC Davis softball team took a 4-3 win in nine innings over San Jose State on Sunday at the Santa Clara Bronco Classic.

The Aggies (12-10) answered a run from the Spartans (11-13) in the bottom of the eighth, using an RBI single from Elizabeth Santana to even the score at 3-3. Holmes had a pair of strikeouts to hold San Jose State scoreless in the top of the ninth, before Megan Guzman had a bunt single and scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Jessica Thweatt started in the circle for UC Davis and held the Spartans scoreless in the first three innings, allowing just one hit in that time. San Jose State scored first however, posting two runs on four hits in the top of the fourth. Holmes came in to pitch with two outs in the inning and got out of trouble by tagging out Brianna Yray, as she attempted to advance home.

The Aggies reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth after Holmes started a two-out rally with a single through the right side. A Rachel Miller single was followed by a Jessica Gonzalez RBI single to right field that scored Holmes and made the score 2-1.

UC Davis had an empty trip to the plate in the sixth but Holmes gave the Aggies life with one out in the seventh, sending a solo home run over the center field fence. UC Davis couldn't manage any more offense however, as the game extended into extra innings.

The international tiebreaker was in effect during the additional innings, as San Jose State manufactured a run with a sacrifice bunt and RBI single from Alex Stange. The Aggies quickly evened the score in the bottom of the eighth, making the score 3-3 heading into the ninth inning.

UC Davis put the pressure on after Holmes retired three batters in order with two strikeouts and a ground-out in the top of the ninth. A Megan Guzman bunt single put runners at the corners with no outs to start the bottom of the inning. The Aggies came up empty on their first attempt to advance home on a wild pitch but Guzman would later score to give UC Davis the 4-3 win.

Holmes improved to 7-7 with the win after allowing three hits and striking out seven in 5.1 innings of work, while Jennifer Ames dropped to 4-6 after giving up nine hits and three earned runs.

UC Davis will enjoy an extended break for finals before getting back into competition with a game at Stanford on Tuesday, Mar. 22 at 6 p.m.