DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team split its doubleheader with UC Santa Barbara Saturday afternoon at La Rue Field. The Aggies raced out to a 10-2 in the first game of the twin-bill and then fell in the rubber-match of the series, 6-2. After the weekend, UC Davis moves to 20-26 overall and 8-13 in Big West play.

Freshman Reese Mattley paced the Aggie offense, batting .750 (6-for-8) in the series. Anna Dethlefson batted .444 (4-for-9) with three runs, two doubles and two RBI.

Game One

Mattley started the scoring for the Ags in the third when she singled home Dethlefson after she led off the inning with a double. With the bases loaded Grace Kilday took a bases loaded walk to score Mattley.

After the Gauchos evened the score in the fourth, the Aggies exploded for eight runs in the sixth to run-rule UCSB. Libbie McMahan had the big hit in the frame, connecting for her first home run on the season in grand fashion, clearing the bases and setting the tone for the big inning.

Mattley, Dethlefson and Kilday collected two hits apiece as Kilday and Sommer Kissling had multi-RBI games.

Kenedi Brown recorded the victory, allowing two runs – one earned on six hits while striking out eighth six innings of work.

Game two

UC Davis dropped the series with a 6-2 defeat in the backend of the doubleheader. UCSB raced out to a 3-0 lead before the Aggies scored in the fourth when Sierra Hillman dropped in a single down the line in right field to plate Mattley.

UC Davis threatened in the fifth and six innings, leaving three on base in each frame and 12 total for the contest.

Mattley batted 3-for-3 in the game while Dethlefson added a pair of knocks. Mia Hildebrand kept the Aggies in the game, allowing just one hit in two innings of relief.

UC Davis will hit the road to face Cal Poly. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader on Friday, May 6 and wrap up the series with a single contest on Saturday.