DAVIS, Calif. — Despite tying the UC Davis Division I program record for single-game home runs with three total on the afternoon, it was Pacific's Tyler Ryan's pinch-hit three-run blast that keyed a late comeback win by the Tigers in the ninth-inning, and lifted visiting Pacific to an 11-9 victory over UC Davis in the first of three meetings between the two teams on the schedule this season during Wednesday's mid-week battle at Phil Swimley Field. 

The Aggies' three-home run effort on Wednesday afternoon marks the 11th such performance by a UC Davis squad in Division I era history, and the first time the Aggies have done so since slugging three round trippers on April 26, 2015, also against Pacific.  

The Aggies rallied from an early two-run hole to take a commanding 9-2 lead in the fourth, but fell to 6-10 on the season. Pacific meanwhile scored nine unanswered runs to improve to 11-5 on the season.  

Redshirt junior Logan Denholm exploded for a 3-for-5 performance at the plate—which included his second homer of the season—on Wednesday, while senior Garret Kelly added a pair of extra-base hits and the freshman duo of Conner Longrie and Jalen Smith logged their first career home runs, each slugging two-run blasts in the fourth as part of a six-run effort by UC Davis. 

Two runs in the first inning staked Pacific to the early lead, but the Aggies bounced back quickly with two in the second and one in the third to claim the lead. Denholm's home run an RBI-single by senior Cameron Briggs brought the home team even before a fielding error by the Tiger defense in the third plated Kelly who logged his fourth double of the year to lead off the inning, for a 3-2 advantage. 

UC Davis then broke open the afternoon with a six-run effort in the fourth, an inning that saw five hits—including three extra-base—two errors and three changes on the mound for the Tigers. Sophomore Joseph Myers got the inning started with a lead-off walk before Longrie set the tone with his first career round tripper. Evans reached safely on an infield error before moving over to second on a groundout by Briggs and advanced to third thanks to his second career stolen base. Kelly then plated Evans with his first triple of the year and came around to score on Smith's first-ever home run as an Aggie to give UC Davis an 8-2 lead. Morrison kept the inning alive with a single to right center field, while a second error by the Tiger defense put runners on first and second. A single through the left side by Denholm then scored the Aggies' final run of the inning. 

But the fans at Dobbins Stadium would see no other scores from UC Davis as momentum slowly swung back in favor of the visiting team. Three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the eighth put the Tigers back within striking distance, but it was a three-run homer in the ninth by pinch hitter Tyler Ryan that lifted Pacific to a late comeback win over the Aggies, 11-9.  

Henrick Reinertsen (2-0) earned the win for the Tigers after tossing one inning of scoreless, hitless relief in the eighth before turning it over to Nick Swanson who secured his third save of the season with another hitless performance by the Pacific bullpen. 

Murray continues to lead the Aggies after extending his hitting streak to 10 straight games. 

Following a nearly two-week break from competition the Aggies will resume road action at Santa Clara on Mar. 26 with first pitch scheduled for 6 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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