Feb. 25, 2012

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The UC Davis softball team closed out its competition at the Cathedral City Classic with a 7-5 loss to New Mexico and 5-3 loss to Syracuse on Saturday at the Big League Dreams Sports Park.

The Aggies (5-12) allowed 12 hits in game one against the Lobos, as New Mexico (13-1) continued its hot start to the season. UC Davis held a lead over the Orange before Syracuse (5-3) had three runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal the win.

Rachel Miller led the Aggies at the plate with a combined three hits and three RBIs over two games. Julie Wambold had a walk-off two-run home run for Syracuse to seal the 5-3 win while New Mexico had two hits from five separate players.

In game one, New Mexico reached the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second with two runs on four hits. UC Davis wasted no time taking back the lead, posting four runs on three hits and one error in the third. Miller had a two-RBI single up the middle while Kelly Harman and Chandler Wagner added RBI hits to make the score 4-2.

The Lobos managed to even the score in the following inning thanks to a two-RBI single from Jordyn Bledsoe. The back-and-forth game continued into the fourth, where the Aggies went up 5-4 on one hit and two errors. Heather Zimmerman had a lead-off single before UC Davis took advantage of a pair of New Mexico miscues to score the run.

The Lobos took control in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs of five hits. Carramusa, Cox and Hodgins all had RBI singles to put New Mexico on top 7-5 for good.

Jessica Thweatt picked up the loss and dropped to 2-5 after throwing 6.0 innings and allowing 12 hits and five earned runs. Carrie Sheehan earned the win for the Lobos to improve to 5-1, tossing a complete game and allowing seven hits and one earned run.

Game One Box

In game two, the Aggies had another strong outing from Justine Vela in the circle despite the come from behind loss. The freshman allowed just two hits and no runs through the first five innings.

UC Davis took the lead from the start of the game, lighting up the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first. Cassandra Ginnis reached base on a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice before a Schulze RBI single.

The Aggies added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings while holding Syracuse scoreless. Miller had a solo home run in the top of the fourth, her third dinger of the year. In the fifth, UC Davis took advantage of an Orange miscue, scoring an unearned run after an error and Amy Nunez sacrifice fly, making the score 3-0.

Syracuse managed to cut into the lead in the sixth, as Carey-Leigh Thomas had a two-run home run, bringing the score to 3-2. The Orange evened the score in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI double from Shirley Daniels. UC Davis was one out away from extending the game into extra innings before Wambold's two-run homer gave Syracuse the 5-3 win.

Vela picked up the tough luck loss and fell to 3-6 after allowing six hits and five runs while striking out six. Lindsay Taylor earned her first win of the year after throwing 2.0 innings of relief and allowing just one hit.

Game Two Box

UC Davis will be back in action next week with a single game at Sacramento State on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. before traveling to the Highlander Classic on the weekend.