DAVIS, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team will open Big West Conference play on the road at Cal State Fullerton this weekend. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Friday, March 17 and conclude with the series finale on Saturday, March 18.
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
UC Davis concluded its preseason slate with a 13-7 record, winning seven of its last nine games. The Ags pitching staff was strong over that 20-game span, sporting a 2.07 ERA, while holding opponents to just a .250 average. Offensively, UCD hit at a .267 clip, outscoring the opposition, 65-58. The Ags were 26-30 in stolen base attempts.
Individually,
Anna Dethlefson hit .345 with 15 runs, seven doubles, a home run and drove in seven. She was a perfect 12-for-12 on the basepaths.
Leah Polson closely followed with a .333 clip on 20 hits, while
Sarah Nakahara was the other Ag hitting over .300 with a .327 average.
In the circle,
Kenedi Brown was 7-3 with a 1.44 ERA. She held opponents to a .199 average and sported a 1.44 ERA. She struck out 53 in 53.1 innings and posted two shutouts.
Sarah Reineman was the Aggie lead in ERA with a 1.33 clip in 31.2 innings.
Taylor Fitzgerald boasted a 2.10 ERA in 33.1 innings.
BIG WEST OPENERS
UC Davis will be opening its conference slate against Cal State Fullerton for the third straight season. Last year the Aggies took the front end of the doubleheader but were edged in the remaining two contests. The Aggies last won a conference opening series in 2019 when they took 2-of-3 from CSUN at La Rue Field.
BIG WEST RANKINGS
UC Davis ranks second in the league with a team ERA of 2.07 and rank fourth with a .267 batting average. The Ags boast three hurlers in the top-10 in ERA as Reineman checks in third overall with a 1.33 ERA, while Brown (1.44) is fifth and Fitzgerald (2.10) is ninth. Brown's .199 average against is third in the conference. Dethlefson ranks second in the Big West with 12 stolen bases.
SILICON VALLEY CLASSIC RECAP
The Aggies went 3-1 at the Silicon Valley Classic this past weekend. UCD outscored its opponents 16-13 and hit at a .287 clip. The Ags sported a 2.85 team ERA and struck out 19 in 27 innings.
Bella Pahulu paced the Ags at the plate with a .500 average and five hits, while Brown was unblemished with a 0.00 ERA a win and a save. The righthander struck out 11 in nine innings.
NEXT TIME OUT
UC Davis will host its first conference series of the year when the Aggies welcome Long Beach State for a three-game series at La Rue Field. A doubleheader on Saturday, March 25, will start things off. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
