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DAVIS, Calif. – Jalen Smith's two-run blast over the left field fence during the seventh inning of Friday's Big West Conference game at Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium sparked UC Davis' comeback effort against Cal State Fullerton, as that swing pulled the Aggies within four runs with two-plus innings left to play. But it was a pair of Titan runs in the top of the ninth that thwarted UC Davis' late charge as CSF pulled away to record a 9-3 victory in the series opener.
 
The Aggies will return to their home diamond for Saturday's 12 p.m. doubleheader with a 9-22 overall and 4-13 Big West record; Cal State Fullerton is now 13-15 and 6-3.
 
Even though the Titans took an early lead by scoring twice in the second, it was a hard-luck play that took place for UC Davis in the top of the fifth that ultimately led to a crooked number on the scoreboard for the visitors.
 
With one out already recorded, a blooper to shallow right field landed between Isaiah Verrett and second baseman Nick Iverson, which allowed Josh Urps to reach first safely.
 
As the inning continued, a CSF single was sandwiched between a pair of doubles, which allowed the Titans to extend their lead to four. But it was a three-run home run that barely cleared the right field fence moments later that pushed their lead to 7-0.
 
With plenty of baseball still left to play, a leadoff double from Jake Brandel turned into the first run of the game for the Aggies in the sixth when he advanced 90 feet on back-to-back grounders to second from Spencer Gedestad and Conner Longrie, who earned the RBI during his at bat.
 
But it was Smith's shot to left that energized the Aggie dugout since that swing chopped the team's deficit to four runs and pulled it within striking distance.
 
After the Titans were retired in order in the seventh, solid pitching from Ryan O'Hara turned a potential CSF scoring opportunity into additional momentum for his team heading into its half of the eighth.
 
With runners on second and third, with only one out in the frame, O'Hara forced Cal State Fullerton to end the inning with a line drive to Gedestad at first, and a pop out to foul territory right in front of the visitor's dugout, which forced the Titans to strand a pair in scoring position.
 
UC Davis will look to bounce back during Saturday's twinbill, which begins at 12 p.m. In addition to a video stream, live stats are available for both matchups.
 
 
 
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, over 700 student-athletes across 25 teams enjoy an unrivaled undergraduate experience at the fifth-ranked public school in the country. 
 
Ranked annually in the nation's top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis and its innovative Aggie EVO System helps student-athletes develop passions, connect with a comprehensive network of alums and industry leaders, gain real-world experience and thrive as a young professional following a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school.