May 20, 2011

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif. - Greg Davis threw a four-hit complete game shutout while UC Santa Barbara took advantage of five Aggie errors en route to an 11-0 win over the UC Davis baseball team on Friday at Dobbins Stadium.

Davis had a perfect game going through four complete innings and stranded six runners on base in the final five to improve to 5-5 on the season. The Aggies never recovered after falling behind early, allowing four unearned runs on the day.

The Gauchos had eight hits as a team led by Ryan Palermo, who posted two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Bryce Tafelski also managed a pair of hits while Mark Haddow added an RBI hit, two walks and a run scored. David Popkins broke up the perfect game in the top of the fifth, as one of four Aggies to register a hit.

UC Santa Barbara improved to 22-24 on the season with a 7-12 mark in conference play, while UC Davis dropped to 16-32 and 8-11 in Big West games.

The Gauchos managed to reach the scoreboard early and often, scoring with two runs in the first before adding three runs in both the third and fourth innings. UC Santa Barbara started with a walk in the top of the first, followed by a two-out walk and fielder's choice to load the bases. Palermo made the Aggies pay, using a two-RBI single to put the Gauchos on top 2-0.

UC Santa Barbara had back-to-back three-run innings, after one hit and two errors in the top of the third. Joe Wallace had an RBI groundout in the inning, followed by a sacrifice fly for Palermo. Trevor Whyte had the only hit of the inning, sending a double down the right field line before coming around to score on an Aggie error.

The Gauchos kept the pressure on with a lead-off hit in the top of the fourth from Derek Eligio. Another error for UC Davis put two one with no out, giving the Aggies three miscues in the game. Sean Williams and Haddow had back-to-back RBI hits while Wallace added a sacrifice fly, giving UC Santa Barbara an 8-0 advantage.

Davis was perfect for the Gauchos through four innings, retiring the first 12 Aggie batters in order. Popkins had a lead-off single to left field in the top of the fifth to spoil Davis' bid at a perfect game. UC Davis continued to threaten in the fifth, with a single from Daniel Cepin and a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases. Davis got out of the inning however, using a flyout to strand three on base.

The Aggie errors continued to pile up in the top of the seventh, as UC Santa Barbara scored three more runs on two hits and two errors. Palermo had a lead-off double down the left field line and scored the only earned run of the inning, thanks to a Whyte RBI single to center field. UC Davis had two errors on a single play, leading to another run scored. Eligio also posted a sacrifice fly to cap off the Gaucho scoring, putting UC Santa Barbara on top 11-0.

Davis managed to close out the game by allowing just one hit in the final two innings, while striking out two in that time to seal the win.

Scott Lyman took the loss for the Aggies and dropped to 3-6 on the season after allowing six earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings of work. Scott Chew threw 3.0 innings of relief and allowed one earned run and two hits, while Scott Walker closed out the game with a scoreless final inning.

UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Dobbins Stadium.