Box Score

DAVIS, Calif. - Amy Nunez hit her first home run of the year, a two-run blast that easily cleared the left field fence at La Rue Field, Leah Munden collected her eighth win and Dana Cruse recorded her first career save when UC Davis opened a four-game homestand by defeating Montana, 4-1, in Tuesday's non-conference game.

UC Davis will enter Friday's Big West home opener, against CSUN, with a 13-16 overall record. Montana ends its weekend in Northern California - the Grizzlies faced Sacramento State last weekend in a three-game league series - with a 5-26 mark.

After Phalen Cochran singled to left field in the top of the first inning, Nunez sent her home with one swing. The home run, which everyone at La Rue Field knew would clear the fence from the moment the ball left the bat, gave Munden a cushion to work with when she returned to the circle in the following frame.

"Scoring first, and preventing our opponent to score in the first inning are two goals this team concentrates on each game," said UC Davis head coach Erin Thorpe. "With Amy's at-bat, we were able to accomplish both from the start.

"It's a great way to start the game, build our confidence quickly and pick up some extra energy."

Throughout the following three innings, Munden allowed only two hits to Montana before Cruse entered in the top of the fifth.

During her three-inning appearance, Cruse, like Munden, fanned four batters and only gave up one hit, a blooper that landed in shallow left center in the one spot that the three closest Aggies could not reach from their original defensive position.

Munden has now collected more victories throughout her 21 appearances this year (8) than her previous two seasons combined (7).

Brianna Warner's single to leftin the fifth inning became UC Davis' third run after Cochran hit a chopper through the middle of the infield.

Krista Bava's double up the middle in the following inning, allowed Ashley Lotoszynski to race around third and score UC Davis' final run of the day.

Including Tuesday's game, seven of softball's next eight games will take place at La Rue Field. The Aggies will resume league play when the CSUN Matadors visit campus starting with Friday's 1:30 p.m. doubleheader. Saturday's season finale will start at noon.

"We love playing at home and are excited to compete on our own diamond. The travel can become tedious, at times. We have been on the road for most of the season and the players have been working hard, which is why we look forward to these upcoming weeks," said Thorpe.


UC Davis 4, Montana 1
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Montana............. 000 100 0 - 1 5 1 (5-26)
UC Davis............. 200 011 X - 4 8 0 (13-16)
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Pitchers: Montana - Reitz, Meggie and Brenneis, Lexie. UC Davis - Munden, Leah; Cruse, Dana(5)
and Carney, Alexis.

Win-Munden, Leah (8-6) Save-Cruse, Dana (1) Loss-Reitz, Meggie (1-3)
T-3:46 pm A-104
HR UCD - Nunez, Amy.
Weather: 72 degrees, clear skies