Davis, Calif. — UC Davis picked up their second Big West series win of the year after receiving contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely. This effort would help the Aggies put up 11 runs and defeat the UC Riverside Highlanders 11-6 Sunday.
The win improves UC Davis to 14-21 overall and 5-10 in Big West action. After just winning one series a year ago, the Aggies have now three, with two of them being against Big West opponents and the other coming earlier in the season against Seattle U.
Starting for the Aggies was Carter Delaney who went 4.1 innings of work, allowing five hits, six runs, and surrendering just two walks. While all six Highlander runs came across while Delaney was on the bump, only three of them were earned and Delaney did a great job of escaping trouble when he needed to. The sophomore from El Dorado Hills maintained his composure and dealt with a plethora of adversity that was thrown at him with defensive errors and kept the Aggies in the ballgame through it all.
Danny Carrion picked up the victory out of the bullpen for UC Davis. Carrying some momentum after picking up his first win of the year a week ago against UCLA, the junior standout earned both of the victories for the Aggies this weekend against the Highlanders. That gives him three straight wins in his last three appearances. Today, the right-hander went 2.2 shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing no walks and striking out three.
Kaden Hogan who has been called upon to save most of the games this year also made an impact on the mound for the Aggies, throwing two scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout. Not earning a save due to the score difference, the duo of Carrion and Hogan in the latter half of games has been one of the most reliable options for UC Davis.
In the batter's box, the Aggies were paced by junior Alex Gouveia, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double and two RBI. Jack Gallagher also came through with one of his best performances in an Aggie uniform, going 3-for-4 with two doubles. Leaning on the long ball for most of the year, Gallagher showed off his talent to be the all-around hitter the Aggies envisioned.
The bottom of the order with Nick Iverson and Joey Wright chipped in by going 2-for-4 each to help fuel the Aggie hit parade.
In a day that saw UC Davis out hit the Highlanders 12-7, UC Davis enjoyed five extra base hits, and a total of eight free passes to pile on the 11 runs this afternoon.
Junior Damian Stone also contributed for UC Davis, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk, a hit by pitch, and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Gouveia's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for the Aggies.
The Highlanders then tied the ballgame at two before the Aggies came back to reclaim their advantage in the second inning. The UC Davis offense got rewarded with four runs, highlighted by a one-run flyout off the bat of Gouveia, which brought the score to 6-2 in favor of the Aggies. An inning that started with three straight singles, the Highlanders would walk in two runs alongside the Gouveia sacrifice fly. The final run of the inning was recorded after some heady baserunning by Stone who caught the Highlander defense sleeping at the conclusion of Gouveia's at-bat.
UC Davis kept UC Riverside scoreless before building their lead to 9-2 in the fourth inning.
The Highlanders gained ground, closing the gap to 9-6 until UC Davis added some insurance in the seventh. Iverson's run-scoring single brought home one run in a two-run output for the Aggies, bringing the score to 11-6 in favor of UC Davis. The score remained 11-6 for the rest of the game, as the Aggies coasted to the win behind the arm of Hogan who would shut the door.
GAME NOTES
» Gallagher had three base knocks in the game for UC Davis.
» The Aggies power output was led by none other than Gallagher, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Every UC Davis starter reached base safely in the win.
» UC Davis' highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Aggies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Aggies out-hit the Highlanders at a 12-7 clip.
» UC Davis went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 37 UC Riverside hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out four.
» The Aggies drew five walks from UC Riverside pitching.
» UC Riverside was led offensively by junior Marcellus Pearson, who went 3-for-4.
» Sophomore Corbin Barker led the Highlanders pitching staff, throwing two scoreless innings.
