Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- UC Davis rallied with seven runs in the late innings to erase a five run deficit, but Deon Stafford, Jr.'s three-run home run in the top of the eighth brought Saint Joseph's back, helping the Hawks to a 10-8 slugfest victory on Friday afternoon on day two of the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament at Schott Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Junior Mason Novak finished 3-for-4 for the Aggies, who fell to 2-5 overall on the season with the loss. Saint Joseph's (1-1), which fell to No. 15 Michigan in its season opener, earned its first win of the season, slugging three home runs on the day.

Senior Tanner Bily, freshman Logan Denholm, and freshman Ryan Anderson also added a pair of hits, with the latter adding three RBI for the second straight day for UC Davis. For Denholm, it was the first two hits of his collegiate career.

Sophomore Matt Blais (0-1) suffered the loss for the Aggies, surrendering four runs on two hits while striking out four in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Junior right-hander Justin Mullins got the start, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out five over 4 2/3 innings, but coming away with a no-decision.

Darren Weidman (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Hawks, allowing a run on a hit in two innings, while Brian Lau worked out of a jam in the ninth to claim his first save of the year despite UC Davis bringing the tying run to the plate.

After spotting Saint Joseph's a five-run advantage after the top of the fifth, the Aggies began to claw their way back in their half of the fifth, loading the bases with two outs. An infield hit by Bily got UC Davis on the board and was followed by Anderson, who laced a 2-2 pitch into left field to score a pair and make it 5-3.

The Hawks escaped the inning without any further damage and added an unearned run in their half of the sixth on an error, but the Aggies continued to rally. UC Davis got a run back in the sixth on an run-scoring ground ball by freshman Garret Kelly, and added three more in the seventh to take its first lead of the game.

An infield single by Jacob Thomas led-off the frame, and the junior moved all the way to third on a wild pitch. Bily drew a walk to bring Anderson up again, and the freshman came through, finding the gap in left for a double to make it 6-5. With two in scoring position, Mark Cardinalli tied the game with a single through the right side and a sac fly by Novak put the Aggies out front, 7-6.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Hawks quickly put two on in their half of the eight via a walk and single to bring up Stafford, Jr., who lifted a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left centerfield for a 9-7 advantage they would not relinquish.

Sophomore Alex Aguiar, who has reached base safely in all seven games this season, made it a one-run game once again with his first career home run with one out in the eighth, but that was all the Aggies would be able to muster as Saint Joseph's tacked on a run in the ninth for the final margin.

UC Davis, which out-hit the Hawks by a 13-11 count, would try another comeback in its half of the ninth as Anderson led-off with a walk only to be erased on a line-drive double play and, after a Novak single, Lau got a fly ball to right to nail down the win.

Tournament play continues on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 27) at 1 p.m. as the Aggies take on Utah Valley in the first of two games against the Wolverines on the weekend.

Saint Joseph's 10, UC Davis 8 (Feb 26, 2016 at Santa Clara, Calif.)
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Saint Joseph's...... 210 021 031 - 10 11 1 (1-1)
UC Davis............ 000 031 310 - 8 13 2 (2-5)
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Pitchers: Saint Joseph's - Rollins; DeVincenzo (5); Powles (7); Weidman (7); Lau (9) and Lau; Stafford. UC Davis - Mullins, Justin; Brown, Chris (5); Blais, Matt (7); Chapman, Joey (9) and Denholm, Logan.
Win-Weidman(1-0) Save-Lau(1) Loss- Blais, Matt (0-1) T-3:23 A-82
HR SJU - Stafford (1); Brue (1); Lau.
HR UCD - Aguiar, Alex (1).
Weather: 69, Mostly Cloudy, WNW 4 mph
Powles faced 4 batters in the 7th.
Blais faced 1 batter in the 9th.