FORT COLLINS – UC Davis (29-21) opened its postseason at the National Invitational Softball Championship as they took on the University of Iowa. The Hawkeyes defeated the Aggies 6-3 on Thursday morning.
 
Newly-named Big West Conference Player of the Year junior Anna Dethlefson went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Juniors Bella Pahulu and Leah Polson each went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Junior Sarah Starks broke the program's division I record by recording two RBIs to move her total to 92 in her three seasons.
 
In the circle, Kenedi Brown pitched two innings and had a strikeout while allowing three runs. Taylor Fitzgerald pitched three innings in relief and had two strikeouts. Caroline Grimes pitched one inning and allowed a run.
 
The Hawkeyes scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning – one on a home run to left field and two on a fielding error.
 
The Aggies would trim the Hawkeyes' lead to one in the top of the third inning as Starks singled to center field. The single scored Dethlefson and Polson.
 
The Hawkeyes added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a single to left center.
 
Each team would score a run in the sixth inning. The Aggies' run came on a Mickey Buscemi single to left field that scored Libbie McMahan
 
The Aggies will take on Tarleton State on Friday morning at 8 am.