DAVIS, Calif. -- True freshmen Anna Dethlefson and Libbie McMahan each collected three hits while UC Davis came back in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings of a 7-6 nightcap win over UC Riverside, closing out a wild Big West Conference women's softball doubleheader at La Rue Field Saturday. The Aggies won the opener by 4-2 final, but not without having to escape a sixth-inning Highlander rally.

UC Davis, in its first action in almost two weeks after having a non-conference date with Saint Mary's canceled, improves to 9-18 overall and 3-5 in conference. UCR drops to 3-17 for the year and 2-9 in Big West play.
After spotting UCR a 2-0 lead in Game 2, the Aggies cut in the margin on Dethlefson's RBI double in the fifth, which scored center fielder Marissa Jauregui. UC Davis then equalized in the sixth on the second of five UCR total errors. Left fielder Leah Polson led off the frame with a walk, then McMahan and pinch hitter Bella Pahulu followed with singles to load the bases. Katie Steffen-Brune then replaced Pahulu on first with Jauregui at bat. Jauregui grounded into a force out, with UCR third baseman Katherine Montuya making a backhanded stab then firing home to catcher Kennedi Sorenson.

Senior shortstop Isabella Leon then came up in a similar situation: bases loaded, tying run at third, only now with one out. Similar to her fellow fifth-year teammate, Leon bounced to Montuya at third. However, Montuya's throw sailed over the head of Sorenson to allow McMahan to slide across for the equalizer. In the ensuing confusion, Sorenson ran down Steffen-Brune retreating to third, then gunned down Jauregui at second. The score remained 2-2 through the sixth.

UC Riverside applied what appeared to be the kill shot in the top of the seventh. With two on and pinch runner Leah Brito at second, Gianna Araki – a defensive replacement in the previous inning – smacked a two-run homer to left, putting the Highlanders back on top by a 4-2 edge.

UC Davis again answered in its half of the seventh. Sommer Kisling led off with a walk, then Dethlefson moved her up on a single to left. Two batters later, Sarah Starks walked to load the bases. Polson sent a fly to left, just deep enough to bring in the speedy Dethlefson from third for a sacrifice fly. McMahan followed with a rip through the middle, sending Starks to second and Megan Bower to third. Bower rounded third and paused partway home, only to discover the UCR defense neglecting her. She then resumed her stride to score the tying run, making the score 4-4. Highlander starter Katie Barbarick returned to the game to retire Jauregui with the bases loaded, sending the game to extra innings.

Following its own example in the seventh, UC Riverside pushed across two more in the top of the eighth, thanks to a two-run double by Sorenson. Aggie second-year freshman and starter Taylor Fitzgerald re-entered in the pitching circle, then with the bases loaded and one out, coaxed a 5-2-3 double play to end the rally.

The Aggies made its third comeback in the bottom half of the eighth. Leon singled, then Kisling reached on a bobbled ball, which was compounded by an errant throw that allowed both runners into scoring position. Dethlefson struck a well-hit ball to center, only to have UCR's Allison Troche make a diving catch. It was enough to allow Leon to easily score, then Bower punched a single to left, bringing in Kisling for the equalizer at 6-6.

Starks followed with a line drive to center, bringing Bower – the potential game-winning runner – to third with only one out. With Polson at bat, Starks broke for second on a delayed double steal. Sorenson opted to get Bower wandering off third, but threw out of the reach of Montuya. It marked the third error of the inning and the fifth of the game for the Highlanders, and it allowed Bower to cross home plate on her feet.

Fitzgerald was victimized by some hard luck in the first inning to fall into a 2-0 hole, but she managed to retire 15 straight batters from the second through the sixth while UC Davis worked its way out of the deficit. She earned the win in relief, coming in for true freshman Sarah Reineman in the eighth.

The Aggies' Game 1 did not quite have the drama of the nightcap, with Leon hitting 2-for-3 with a pair of runs – the first of which came on a double steal with Bower in the first inning. Bower then delivered a two-run double to the right-center gap in the third, increasing the UC Davis lead to 4-0.

Starter Kenedi Brown had a no-hitter into the sixth, but gave up four singles in a two-run sixth. She escaped the jam by fanning Briza Blanco with two runners in scoring position. Brown finished with a complete-game victory, allowing just those four hits and one earned run, while fanning nine Highlander batters against only one walk.

Dethlefson also had a hit in the opening game, giving her four for the day. She played catcher in Game 1, then was slotted in as the designated player in the second game before a minor injury to McMahan sent Polson to third and Dethlefson to left. McMahan later returned to the game, responding with her three hits.

UC Davis and UC Riverside conclude the Big West Conference series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon. This was the first weekend to allow home spectators at La Rue Field, with 50 designated UC Davis player guests scattered around the venue's seating.
 

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