BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The UC Davis softball team (17-11, 4-4 Big West) erupted for 20 runs to bounce back in a big way to sweep the doubleheader to earn the series victory over Cal State Bakersfield.

The Aggies out-hit the Roadrunners, 24-6, en route to the 20-2 run advantage on Saturday at the Roadrunner Softball Complex.

Junior Sarah Starks paced the Ags at the plate with a 5-for-6 (.883) day at the plate as five Aggies tallied three or more hits in the twin-bill. The UC Davis arms held CSU Bakersfield to just a .182 batting average while sporting a 1.40 ERA.

GAME 1

The UC Davis Aggies amassed the most its highest run total of the season, running away from CSU Bakersfield in the front end of the doubleheader, 11-2.

Junior Kenedi Brown (9-5) went three shutout innings, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out three en route to the victory.

The Aggies were led by junior Anna Dethlefson, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Starks started off the series 2-for-3 with three RBI. Senior Sommer Kisling put together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.

The Aggies got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. UC Davis' offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Starks.

The Aggies then held the Roadrunners scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning. The Ags exploded for seven runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of junior Sarah Nakahara and a two-run triple from Dethlefson, which brought the Aggies lead to 11-0.

What plagued the Aggies last weekend turned into a huge strength on Saturday as they went 7-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the opener.

GAME 2

Junior Taylor Fitzgerald was dealing on Saturday, tossing a two-hit shutout to lead the UC Davis Aggies to the series win over the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners by the score of 9-0.
Fitzgerald (4-3) went the distance, giving up two hits, walking none and striking out four.

Starks continued her hot hitting on Saturday, going 3-for-3 in the nightcap with five RBI. Junior Libbie McMahan batted 3-for-3 with an RBI. Nakahara also chipped in with a walk and an RBI.

The Aggies plated three runs in the opening frame and never looked back en route to the shutout victory. UC Davis scored three runs in the first, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Starks.

The Aggies then tacked on runs in the third and fourth innings, with their biggest output coming in the fourth when they scored four times.

The Ags continued the trend of taking care of business with runners in scoring position, batting at a .389 clip, The Aggies went 4-for-7 with the bases loaded.

The two teams will conclude the series tomorrow at Noon.