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LONG BEACH, Calif. – Trailing 5-2 in the back-half of Saturday's Big West doubleheader at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field, UC Davis trimmed its deficit to a pair of runs in the fifth inning when Jalen Smith scored on Spencer Gedestad's sac fly to center field after initially reaching base on a one-out double to left center.
 
Following Long Beach State's half of the inning, which included a single sandwiched between a pair of ground outs and ended with a fly ball to right, the Aggies stepped up once again when they returned to the plate by scoring another run, which sliced the Dirtbags' lead to a 5-4 score.
 
Responsible for driving in the first run of the day when he hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning in Saturday's first game, one UC Davis dropped by a 7-1 result, Michael Campagna touched home plate in the sixth inning of game two when J.D. Mico hit a sac fly of his own to center.

The Aggies' catcher opened the inning by reaching base safely on a LBSU throwing error.
 
With UC Davis gaining momentum by the inning and pulling closer to the Dirtbags with each set of at bats, LBSU responded by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to push its lead back to a three-run margin. Even though two runs were scored in the bottom of the sixth on hit-by-pitch and a grounder to second, each with the bases loaded, Nathan Peng helped keep the Aggies within striking distance by coming up clutch in relief.
 
On the brink of further adding to its lead with runners on second and third, Peng forced Calvin Estrada to hit a pop fly to Jake Brandel in right field, on a 0-1 count, to end the inning.
 
Following a scoreless seventh, which included Cooper Morrison's perfect strike from center to Jalen Smith at third to record the second out of LBSU's half of the frame, the Aggies threatened once again when they returned to the plate in the top of the eighth.
 
Reaching base on a one-out single to left, Colton Evans took second on a wild pitch but was unable to advance further after Long Beach State ended UC Davis' rally with a pair of swinging strikeouts.  

When Peng returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth, it was his turn to earn a pair of Ks as the Dirtbags were retired in order with the final two batters striking out swinging and looking.
 
Unfortunately for the Aggies, LBSU retired them in order in the ninth to end the day with a 7-4 victory that pushed UC Davis' records to 14-42 overall and 8-31 in league play. With Saturday's sweep, the Dirtbags will enter Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale at 27-15 and 25-14, respectively.

 


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.