DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team opens its 2023 season with six games at the NorCal Kickoff, co-hosted with Sacramento State. The Ags will open the campaign against the Hornets in Sacramento on Thursday, Feb. 9, and then play five games from Feb. 10 – 12 at La Rue Field.
WEEKLY SNAPSHOT
Feb. 9 at Sacramento State – 2:30 PM
Feb. 10 vs. Seattle – Noon
Feb. 10 vs. Pacific – 2:30 PM
Feb. 11 vs. Rutgers – Noon
Feb. 12 vs. Utah Valley – 9:30 AM
Feb. 12 vs. Santa Clara – Noon
TICKETS
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
NORCAL KICKOFF HISTORY
The Aggies have enjoyed success in their season-opening tournament over the years as the Ags sport a 13-4 overall mark in the last four tournaments (
In 2016, it was called the Aggie Kickoff). Last season UC Davis posted a 3-1 record in the four contests played at La Rue Field. After dropping the season-opener to Santa Clara, the Ags won the remaining three games by identical scores of 4-1, outscoring the opposition in the entire tournament, 12-6, including a 12-3 margin in the three victories.
BROWN EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
The Big West Conference coaches named
Kenedi Brown to the preseason team. Brown, a two-time All-Big West first-team selection, paced the conference with a 1.73 ERA. The Elk Grove native also paced the league with 190 innings pitched and ranked third, holding opposing batters to a .194 average.
TOP ARMS RETURN IN 2023
The UC Davis pitching staff returns every pitcher that took to the circle in 2022. The Aggies paced the Big West by a large margin with a 2.68 team ERA. The .240 batting average against was the second-best in the league. On top of Brown, UC Davis returns three hurlers that thew over 25 innings in junior
Taylor Fitzgerald (6-7, 3.28 ERA, 100.1 IP), sophomore
Mia Hildebrand (1-2, 2.36 ERA, 29.2 IP) and junior
Sarah Reineman (3-2, 4.77 ERA, 36.2 IP).
LINEUP RETURNS
The Aggies return 15 players that took and at-bat in 2022. The 15 returners account for 136 of the 164 runs scored and 284 of the 333 hits in 2022. All-Big West second-team selection
Anna Dethlefson will suit up for her junior season after leading the Ags in nearly every offensive category, primarily at the top of the lineup. The Fair Oaks native batted a team-best .328 and led UCD with 57 hits, 42 runs, nine doubles, six home runs, 86 total bases and 19 stolen bases. Honorable mention selection
Delaney Diaz returns for her fifth year in the program. Diaz led the team with 25 RBI and added a .272 average with four home runs.
NEXT TIME OUT
UC Davis will head to Long Beach for the Wilson Invitational. The Aggies are scheduled to play three games throughout the tournament. The Ags open play on Friday, Feb. 17, against Louisiana-Monroe and then will play two games on Saturday against ULM and Cal.
