DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team concluded its season in winning fashion as it swept a doubleheader over Hawai'i Saturday at La Rue Field. The Aggies took down the Rainbow Wahine, 5-3, in the first game and then won the series behind a 4-3 victory in the finale. After securing the Saturday sweep, UC Davis concluded the 2022 season 23-29 overall and 11-16 in Big West play.
Leah Polson had a big final day to the season, batting 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Anna Dethlefson put a bow on her stellar sophomore campaign, collecting four hits, two runs and three stolen bases.
Kenedi Brown also ended her season in the form she showed all year, earning a win and a save in nine innings pitched on the day.
Game 1
The Aggies raced out to an early 4-0 lead, putting up a three-spot in the opening frame. Dethlefson started the rally by opening the game with a single to left. After promptly stealing second, the sophomore advanced on a ground out and then swiped home on a double steal with
Libbie McMahan.
Reese Mattley got hit by a pitch before
Leah Polson smacked a double off the wall in center to score McMahan and Mattley.
UC Davis tacked on another in the third when McMahan led off the inning with a double to center and then eventually scored on a sac-fly off the bat of Mattley.
The Ags added insurance in the fifth when Mattley once again came through with an RBI, plating
Sommer Kisling on a single up the middle.
Hawai'i would finally get to UC Davis ace
Kenedi Brown. Brown stymied the Rainbow Wahine for 5 1/3 innings before putting up three runs on four hits to pull within two. After Brown was lifted for two batters, she returned and shut the door for the win.
Brown (13-18) concluded her last start of the season with the complete game victory. She allowed the three runs on four hits and struck out 11.
All seven of the Aggie hits came from each of the top seven batters in the lineup.
Game Two
Hawai'i took the early game two lead, pushing across one run in the second, but UC Davis bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom half to take the lead.
On her Senior Day,
Claudia Kim plated the first run for the Aggies as she singled to left to score Mattley. Dethlefson then singled home Polson.
The Ags tacked on another to take a 3-1 lead when McMahan singled down the right field line to plate
Sarah Nakahara.
UH once again pulled to within one but the Aggies got all the insurance the pitching staff would need as Brown came in to close the door on the Rainbow Wahine.
Taylor Fitzgerald (6-7) put the Ags in a great position, earning the win. She allowed two runs – one earned, scattering seven hits while striking out three. Brown came in to close the door, allowing just one hit en route to her third save of the season.
The Aggies celebrated
Sierra Hillman and Kim pregame for Senior Day. Kim recorded and RBI and a stolen base, while Hillman had four assists in their final game in an Aggie uniform.
