Davis, Calif. — Four pitchers combined to toss a shutout on Sunday as the UC Davis Aggies blanked Cal Poly, 8-0 to secure their first series win against their central coast rivals since 2015. A day full of history at Dobbins Stadium, Jack Gallagher etched his name into the record books during the bottom of the eighth when he slammed his 11th home run of the season, giving him the most home runs for an Aggie in the Division-1 era.
Gallagher's home run breaks the past record of 10, which was set by Aggie great Ryan Royster in the 2008 season, a year that still to this day is the only time Aggies baseball has made a regional during it's time as a Division-1 school.
Also a little history in it's own right,
Kaden Hogan (2-1) started on the mound for the first time as a pitcher and picked up the win for UC Davis (17-26), going five shutout innings while giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out five. Following up Hogan's excellent performance to kick things off,
Alejandro Huezo who transitioned to the bullpen this weekend, was dealing during his time in relief, going two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
With Gallagher and his home run being at the forefront of the Aggie headlines due to the historical monument, he also led the way offensively for the Aggies in this ballgame, going 3-for-4 and adding a double as well as four RBIs. Freshman Leighton Helfrick came through with probably the biggest hit of his young career and the biggest hit of the ball game when he laced a bases-clearing double down the line in the first inning, bringing home three Aggies in the process. He would finish the day going 1-for-3. Sophomore Mark Wolbert also helped out, going 2-for-4 for UC Davis, as the Petaluma pair of Wolbert and Gallagher were the lone Aggies on the day to record multiple hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies took the lead for good in the first, scoring an emphatic six runs, forcing Cal Poly to make a pitching change before their starter could escape the first inning. The six runs came by way of the aforementioned three-run double off the bat of Helfrick and a two-run single from Gallagher earlier in the inning.
The Aggies also added runs in the eighth inning when they scored two off the bat of Gallagher's home run that made him the most prolific Aggie home run hitter in the Division-1 era.
With the offensive charge early on, the Aggies pitching staff provided their second stellar showing of the weekend, limiting the Mustangs to just three hits with Nathan Peng, Danny Carrion, Huezo, and Hogan keeping Cal Poly off balance all day.
GAME NOTES
» Four UC Davis pitchers combined to throw a three-hit shutout.
» Gallagher compiled three base hits in the game for UC Davis.
» Hogan struck out five Mustangs hitters.
» The Aggies power output was led by Gallagher, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Gallagher drove in four runs for UC Davis.
» UC Davis' highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed six runs across.
» UC Davis took a 6-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Aggies out-hit the Mustangs at a 10-3 clip.
» UC Davis went 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» The Aggies got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» UC Davis pitchers limited Cal Poly to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 35 Cal Poly hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out nine.
» Gallagher led the Aggies at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
» Cal Poly was led offensively by sophomore Ryan Fenn, who went 1-for-4.
» Junior Ryan Baum led the Mustangs pitching staff, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings.
