DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis sophomore
Kyler Arenado finished 4-for-5, drove in a run, and was on base six times, but a couple of big innings were all UC Irvine needed to sweep a Big West Conference doubleheader from the Aggies on Saturday by the scores of 8-0 and 6-2 at Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium.
UC Davis fell to 5-12 overall and 0-3 in league play with the losses, while the Anteaters improved to 9-7 overall and remained unbeaten in the conference with a 3-0 record.
Arenado finished 1-for-2 with a walk in the opener, lacing a third-inning single and promptly stealing second before being stranded. In game two, the Huntington Beach, Calif., native singled to lead-off the third, doubled into the left field corner with one out in the fifth, and doubled to drive in a run in the bottom of the ninth as the Aggies tried to mount a rally.
Cooper Morrison also finished with two hits in the nightcap, while
Jake Brandel added a third-inning sacrifice fly to break up the shutout after UCI scored five runs in the first to grab an early lead.
The Anteaters added a run in the seventh, setting the stage for a ninth-inning comeback attempt by the Aggies. Connor Longrie's pinch-hit single with one out started things off as
Michael Campagna followed with a walk to put two on. After a strikeout, Arenado's double made it 6-2 and
Jalen Smith was hit by the first pitch he saw to load the bases.
That brought up Morrison, who looked to get out of the way of a pitch only to have his bat chip the ball into play. The ball stayed fair as the Anteater first baseman scooped it up and stepped on the bag to end the game.
Freshman
Kaden Riccomini pitched well in relief of starter
Nolan Meredith (1-3), allowing just two runs and scattering eight hits while striking out five over seven innings.
Nate Freeman took over in the eighth and allowed one hit while striking out one over the final two innings.
Michael Frias (3-0) allowed a run on four hits and struck out nine to pick up the win.
In the opener, Irvine's Nick Pinto allowed just two hits and struck out seven over eight innings of work as the Anteaters jumped out early and never looked back. UC Irvine scored three in the first, posted single runs in the third through fifth innings, and tacked on two more in the sixth en route to the 8-0 win.
Smith finished 1-for-4 to join Arenado in the hit column for the Aggies.
The two teams conclude their four-game series on Sunday (March 21) at 1 p.m.
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, represent the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.
