DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team came from behind twice on Sunday to claim a pair of victories on the final day of the NorCal Kickoff held at La Rue Field. The Aggies needed eight innings to down Utah Valley, 5-4 and then closed out the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Santa Clara. After the day, the Ags improve to 5-1 on the season.
GAME 1
The UC Davis Aggies needed eight innings to get the job done, but secured the 5-4 extra-innings win, walking it off with junior Rylie Costa at the plate to claim victory over the Utah Valley Wolverines Sunday.
Trailing 4-0, the Aggies first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. UC Davis' offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a one-run double off the bat of sophomore Maddie Grissom.
The rally started when Leah Polson singled to center. The Ags then smacked four-straight extra base hits to storm back into the contest.
Sarah Starks got the Aggies on the board with a double to center that plated Polson, then Starks came home on a double off the bat of Libbie McMahan. Sarah Nakahara brought McMahan home on a triple and then Grissom evened the score on a double of her own.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth, when UC Davis walked it off when Grissom came across to score all the way from second on a deep sac-fly off the bat of
Junior Kenedi Brown (2-1) got the win out of the bullpen for UC Davis (4-1). The right-hander went one shutout inning without giving up a hit. Junior Taylor Fitzgerald started the ballgame and went seven innings, surrendering four runs, one earned, on seven hits, walking none and striking out four.
Offensively, the Aggies were led by Nakahara, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Starks put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. McMahan also helped out for UC Davis, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate, while adding a double and an RBI.
GAME 2
The UC Davis Aggies rallied from down 1-0 in the fifth inning to take down the Santa Clara Broncos, 3-1 Sunday.
Trailing 1-0, the Aggies first put runs on the board in the sixth inning. UC Davis scored all three of its runs in the frame and started off the rally when McMahan singled-home Starks. After a Nakahara walk, a Santa Clara error off the bat of Delaney Diaz plated McMahan and Nakahara.
Brown (3-1) picked up her second victory out of the bullpen for UC Davis (5-1). The right-hander went 3.2 shutout innings while giving up two hits, allowing three walks and striking out three. Freshman Caroline Grimes also made an impact in the circle for the Aggies, starting the ballgame and throwing 3.1 innings, giving up one run on five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts.
At the plate, the Aggies were paced by Starks, who went 2-for-3 on the day. McMahan put together another solid effort, going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
UC Davis will head to Long Beach to play three games in the Wilson Invitational. Tournament play will begin on Friday, Feb. 17, against Louisiana Monroe.
