DAVIS, Calif. — Sophomore right-hander Brett Erwin tossed his second quality start of the season after scattering just four hits and striking out a pair over six innings, while sophomore Tanner Murray finished the day 5-for-8 with three RBI and three runs scored to help lift the Aggies to back-to-back wins over Utah Valley by the scores of 7-1 and 7-4 during Friday's doubleheader at Phil Swimley Field in Davis, Calif.

The Aggies improved to a 5-4 overall mark and will look to take the series in tomorrow's 2 p.m. matchup. The Wolverines fell to a 1-7 mark on the year. 

Erwin (2-0) earned his second career win in his third start on the mound for the Aggies this season after holding the Wolverines scoreless over six innings, scattering four hits and striking out two before handing it over to redshirt sophomore Tim Wieser, who logged his first ever save as an Aggie after allowing just one run on three hits over three innings of relief. 

Jake Carr (0-3) suffered the loss for Utah Valley after allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits over 5.2 innings of work.

UC Davis returned to action following a four-day break from competition after its mid-week battle against Sacramento State scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 26) was postponed due to inclement weather earlier this week.

The Aggies were first to strike on Friday morning after Murray led off with his first home run of the season to make it a quick 1-0 game. 

The Aggie defense continued to hold the Wolverines scoreless through the seventh inning, while the offense put the game out of reach with back-to-back three-run efforts in the home halves of the fifth and sixth. Junior Alejandro Lara led off the fifth with a single to right field and moved to third on a misplayed ball off the bat of senior Cameron Briggs. A single by freshman Jalen Smith plated Lara, while a sacrifice bunt from Kelly set up Murray's 2-RBI single through the right side, giving the Aggies a 4-0 advantage. Smith went on to finish 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and one run scored, while Lara went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. 

But the Aggies would have more to say in the sixth, scoring their first run of the inning on a double by Lara—his third of the season. Smith's second hit of day then allowed Lara and Myers to cross the plate as the Aggies breezed to a 7-0 lead. 

The Wolverines' managed to scratch one run across in the visitor half of the eighth, but it would not be enough, resulting in a 7-1 win for the Aggies. 

UC Davis opened the night cap with yet another multi-run effort, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first. Murray was up to his old tricks again leading off with a single to left center field. After advancing to third on a drawn walk by junior Cooper Morrison and a flyout to center field by senior Caleb Van Blake, Murray secured the Aggies' first run of game two on a wild pitch. A double down the right field line by sophomore Joseph Myers plated Morrison, while a sac-fly from Lara made it a 3-0 game in favor of UC Davis.

The Wolverines answered back in the visitor half of the second, pulling back two runs on three hits. But the Aggie offense continued to battle, regaining a two-run lead in their half of the inning thanks to a sac-fly by Morrison.

Utah Valley then pulled within one in the third before erasing the Aggies' lead completely in the sixth, plating the tying run on a single by Hall after two singles and a sacrifice bunt put baserunners at second and third for the Wolverines. Morrison helped prevent a second run from scoring off Hall's single with a standout play in left field to get the runner at home. 

Kelly gave the Aggies what they were looking for in the home half of the sixth, regaining the lead for UC Davis after bouncing his second round tripper of the season off the left field foul pole. UC Davis would go on to score two more before the end of the inning en route to a 7-4, seven-inning win. 

Junior Chase Lyford (1-1) earned the win for the Aggies after allowing just one hit over 1.2 innings of work. Blake Zeleny (0-1) suffered the loss for Utah Valley after allowing three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings on the mound. 

The Aggies and the Wolverines are slated to resume action tomorrow (Mar. 2) for game three of their four-game set at 2 p.m., and will wrap up the series on Sunday (Mar. 3) with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. 


ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.

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