SANTA CLARA – The UC Davis softball team split its games on the final day of the Silicon Valley Classic. The Aggies took down Utah State, 7-6 in the opener and then fell to host Santa Clara, 3-2, on Saturday.
Game 1

Freshman Caroline Grimes (2-0) got the win out of the bullpen for UC Davis. The right-hander went 2.2 innings, giving up three runs on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out two. Junior Kenedi Brown also pitched well, going two shutout innings, while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out four.

At the plate, the Aggies were paced by junior Sarah Starks, who went 1-for-2, with a double, two walks and three RBI. Bella Pahulu went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Sophomore Grace Kilday also helped out with two hits in three trips to the plate while adding an RBI.

Trailing 5-0, the Aggies first put runs on the board in the third inning. UC Davis' offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Starks.

The Aggies kept the deficit at 5-4 before tying the score in the fourth. The Ags scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Kilday, which brought the score level at 5-5.

Utah State broke that tie and took a 6-5 lead heading into the fifth, when UC Davis grabbed the advantage at 7-6. The Aggies picked up two runs when Pahulu brought home Starks and Sarah Nakahara.

Game 2

The Aggies could not hold on for the tournament sweep.

Junior Sarah Reineman (2-2) started and took the loss in the circle. The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on four hits.

Offensively, the Aggies were paced by junior Anna Dethlefson, who went 2-for-3 with two triples and a walk. Junior Leah Polson added a 2-for-3 effort with two RBI. Junior Libbie McMahan also chipped in for the Ags, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double.

The Aggies got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. UC Davis got an RBI single from Polson, scoring Dethlefson from third base.

The Broncos then tied the ballgame at one before the Aggies came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. Dethlefson came across to score the lone run of the inning, which brought the Aggies lead to 2-1. The Aggies were unable to hold the lead, as Santa Clara scored two times over the remaining four innings to grab the 3-2 win.

Next week the Aggies will open Big West play on the road against preseason conference favorite Cal State Fullerton. The Aggies will begin the series with a doubleheader on Friday, which will start at 4 p.m.