CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- Senior shortstop
Isabella Leon hit 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the sixth to lead UC Davis to an 11-3 upset of No. 18 Missouri to close out the first day of action at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic softball tournament at Big League Dreams Friday.
The Aggies, who lost to Seattle by a 3-0 final in their opener, move to 7-5 for the season.
The victory over the Tigers marks the program's first over an NFCA Top 25 team since almost exactly two years ago, when UC Davis stunned No. 18 Oklahoma State, 3-1, at the MNCC.
(Correction: UC Davis defeated No. 17 Long Beach State later in the 2018 season.)
 Center fielder
Marissa Jauregui and third baseman
Alexis Villalobos each finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored against Mizzou. Designated player
Sarah Starks and pinch hitter
Megan Bower each drove in two runs, all of which came in the Aggies' eight-run fifth. Freshman
Kenedi Brown picked up the relief win, firing three innings of shutout ball with only one hit and one walk allowed in that appearance.
The Tigers crafted a 3-0 lead early in the contest, highlighted by solo shots by Megan Moll and Kimberly Wert in the third and fourth frames, respectively. The Aggies only managed one hit to that point before going to bat in the fifth.
Jauregui led off the stanza with a double, then came home on back-to-back infield singles from Villalobos and
Alyse Rojas to put UC Davis on the board. This ignited an eight-run inning, complete with a Villalobos steal of home, a two-run double by Starks and a two-run single from Bower.
An inning later, UC Davis tacked on three more to invoke the eight-run rule. Villalobos and Rojas each singled to start the rally, then Leon launched an 0-1 pitch to left for her fourth homer of the year. Brown retired Mizzou in order in the bottom half of the sixth to close out the victory.
The Aggie offense helped offset the 3-0 morning loss, during which Seattle junior Shi Smith struck out 15 and walked none in a no-hitter. Only Leon and
Maddie Rojas managed to reach, both on hit-by-pitches. Senior
Katie Kibby started the game, allowing three hits and two runs through four; then Brown came in for three innings of relief, fanning four batters with just two hits against her.
UC Davis concludes action at the Nutter Classic against Texas A&M (9:30 a.m.) and Wisconsin (noon) on Saturday.
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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 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: Established 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.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE: Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit this site for more information.
DON'T MISS OUT: Tickets for all UC Davis sports are on sale by contacting the Athletics Ticket Office at (530) 752-AGS1 or by visiting us online at tickets.ucdavis.edu.
