May 7, 2011

Game One Box

Game Two Box

DAVIS, Calif. - Kelly Harman hit a grand slam in game two to help the UC Davis softball team cap off a doubleheader split with a 9-1 win over Cal Poly, after a 5-2 loss in game one on Saturday at La Rue Field.

Alex Holmes picked up the win in game two after holding the Mustangs hitless in 4.2 innings of relief, as the Aggies ended the game early in six innings. Elizabeth Santana also had three hits and two runs scored in game two, while Megan Guzman and Bianca Castillo added two hits apiece. Cal Poly had nine hits in game one, with Stephanie Correia and Ashley Romano each registering multi-hit games.

UC Davis moved to 22-24 on the season with a 7-10 mark in conference play while Cal Poly is currently 9-33 on the season and 5-11 in Big West games.

"I thought our team played well and battled," said head coach Karen Yoder. "We had opportunities in the first game but we didn't capitalize. We were able to set the tone early in second game and any time you can hit a grand slam, it keeps the momentum in your favor. I'm excited for senior day tomorrow and I'm extremely proud of the foundation that our three seniors have created."

In game one, UC Davis got on the board in the bottom of the first, scoring one run on three hits. The Aggies started a two-out rally with back-to-back singles from Harman and Rachel Miller. Kylie Fan brought home the run with an RBI single to center field to give UC Davis a 1-0 advantage.

Cal Poly immediately responded with one run in the top of the third, taking advantage of one hit and an RBI walk scored the run. Whitley Gerhart started the inning with a lead-off double, followed by two runners reaching base on a fielder's choice. Holmes had a strikeout and a groundout before Anna Cahn's walk scored a run, as the Aggies got out of the inning with minimal damage.

The Mustangs added two runs in the top of the fourth, using a single and an error to take the lead. Cal Poly put the lead runner on base again after Mariah Cochiolo was hit by a pitch. Romano followed with a single to right field and a fielding error allowed Cochiolo to score. Romano also scored on an RBI groundout to put the Mustangs up 3-1.

UC Davis threatened in the fifth and sixth but couldn't produce any runs. The Aggies had two runners in scoring position in the fifth with just one out. A potential sacrifice fly ended with Holmes being gunned down at home to end the inning. In the sixth, UC Davis had the bases loaded with one out, thanks to singles from Kelly Schulze and Castillo. The Aggies came up empty again however, after a pair of groundouts ended the inning.

Cal Poly went on to score two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to take a four-run advantage. The Mustangs had four hits, with RBI singles from Cahn and Correia en route to the 5-1 lead.

UC Davis had the bases loaded again in the bottom of the seventh but the Aggies stranded two on base, for a total of 10 runners left on for the game. Holmes had a lead-off walk followed by an error and a fielder's choice that put three on with no outs. UC Davis managed an RBI groundout from Castillo but the offense was too little too late, as Cal Poly held on for a final 5-2 win.

Rebecca Patton picked up the win to improve to 7-18 on the season after allowing eight hits and one earned run in a complete game. Holmes took the loss and dropped to after allowing nine hits and three earned runs in 6.1 innings of work.

In game two, both teams managed early runs again but the Aggies never trailed en route to the win. UC Davis started the game with two runs in the bottom of the first, thanks to three hits and two errors in the inning. Holmes had a lead-off single followed by a Guzman single to shortstop to put two on. The Aggies took advantage of two errors to score the first run before a Castillo RBI double scored the second to give UC Davis a 2-0 advantage.

Both squads posted a single run in the second, starting with a lead-off solo home run for Cahn in the top of the inning. Miller had also had a lead-off hit for the Aggies in the bottom of the second, followed by a sacrifice bunt and error that put runners at the corners. Holmes put the ball in play and was credited with an RBI fielder's choice to give UC Davis a 3-1 lead.

The Aggies broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, adding four runs thanks to a grand slam from Harman. Guzman and Santana had back-to-back singles to start the inning to put runners at first and third with no outs. Cal Poly had the lead runner thrown out after a fielder's choice but the bases were loaded thanks to another single from Castillo. The stage was set for Harman, who turned a 3-1 count into a grand slam over the left field fence to put UC Davis on top 7-1.

The Aggies managed to end the game early after two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Guzman reached base safely after the fourth error of the game for Cal Poly before Santana had a single through the left side. A Castillo walk loaded the bases and an RBI walk for Miller scored the first run. The game ending run was scored thanks to a Felicia Baldwin hit by pitch, sealing the 9-1 victory.

Holmes earned the win and improved to 16-17 on the season after no hits and four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of relief. Cahn took the loss and dropped to 1-12 after allowing nine hits and five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.

UC Davis will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. The Aggies will also celebrate senior day tomorrow, recognizing three seniors in their final home game.