DAVIS, Calif. — Junior Katie Kibby and sophomore Brooke Yanez dominated in the circle, while the offense was able to scrape together enough runs to lift host UC Davis to a doubleheader sweep of visiting CSUN, posting a 4-2 win in the opener and a 1-0 shutout in the nightcap on Saturday afternoon at La Rue Field.

The Aggies improved to 27-5 overall and 2-0 in Big West Conference play, extending their streak to eight consecutive wins to tie the program's Division I record for consecutive victories set earlier this season from March 1-15, and post the program's longest winning streak since winning nine straight from Feb. 2-14, 2003.

In addition, UC Davis opens Big West play with a 2-0 record for only the second time in program history, matching the 2009 squad that swept Pacific to start the league slate.

The Matadors fell to 16-19 overall and 0-2 in the Big West with the loss, limited to just five hits in the two games combined.

Both Yanez (17-1) and Kibby (8-4) went the distance in their respective starts, allowing a combined base runners over the 14 innings. Yanez struck out nine and scattered just three hits in the opener, taking a shutout into the seventh inning before CSUN struck for their only two runs of the day.

Kibby, meanwhile, carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before Jaymi Steward blooped a single into right field with one out in the inning, retiring the first 11 batters she faced and 15 of the first 16 with only a walk mixed in to that run. She finished with a two-hitter, striking out a pair while allowing just one baserunner to reach second base.

In the opener, both teams matched zeroes until the Aggies finally broke through in a big way in the fifth, scoring three times — all with two outs. Marissa Jauregui drew a walk, moved to second on an Isabella Leon single, and beat a throw home after Alyse Rojas dropped a ball into right field for the 1-0 lead.

With both runners moving up an extra base on Rojas' single, freshman Megan Bower then tacked on two more, lofting ball into no-man's land behind the shortstop and in front of the left fielder, allowing both Leon and Rojas to touch the plate for a 3-0 advantage.

Junior Marisa Given capped the scoring for UC Davis in the sixth, launching her second home run of the year over the wall toward the scoreboard in right field for a 4-0 lead before the Matadors answered. Megan Stevens sharply singled through the left side and scored four pitches later on Jessica Alexander's fourth home run of the season to make it 4-2.

However, it was too little, too late for CSUN as Yanez induced a pair of ground balls and struck out the final batter to close out her 17th victory of the year.

Game two saw both Kibby and Kenedee Jamerson locked in another pitchers duel in game two and, again, the fifth inning was key for the Aggies. Junior Maddie Rojas doubled over the head of the centerfielder to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to third by Jauregui.

After a ground ball put the Matadors on the verge of getting out of the inning, Leon bounced a ball to the right side that was misplayed by the CSUN infield, allowing Maddie Rojas to score for the 1-0 lead.

Turns out that was more than enough for Kibby, who worked away from danger in the seventh thanks to some help from her defense. Jauregui ran down a ball destined for the left centerfield gap for the second out of the inning and, after a single by Mackenzie Babbitt and a hit batter, Alyse Rojas went all the way to the wall to retire Alyssa Vazquez and end the game.

Four Aggies finished with two hits on the day — three of those going for extra bases — while five different Matadors finished with hits in the doubleheader.

UC Davis and CSUN close out the three-game series on Sunday (March 31) at 1 p.m. It is Youth Day at La Rue Field with all kids (sixth grade and younger) admitted free by wearing their jerseys to the game. Fans can then stick around for an autograph session and free mini clinic with the team following the final out.

Tickets are available at the gate and online at UCDavisAggies.com.

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, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis 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
Launched in 2017-18, 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.