DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis grabbed its second victory of the season behind Sarah Starks' big swing in the fifth inning and freshman Ashley Sawai's sparkling outing in the circle, powering her team to the win in her first career start.
Sawai ran into some trouble early in the contest, surrendering a first-inning home run before getting tagged with another run in the second. The freshman showed some excellent composure, however, throwing five spotless innings to earn the complete game victory. The right-hander finished with an impressive line, going seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits, allowing no walks while striking out five.
Starks went 1-for-3 with a bases-clearing double in addition to her four RBI for the Aggies. After going hitless in her first two games, reigning Big West Player of the Year Anna Dethlefson found her rhythm at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After San Jose State homered in the first and manufactured another run in the second to take an early lead, the Aggies answered with a four spot in the third frame. Sydney Polli led off the inning with an infield hit and Grace Kilday promptly bunted her over to second. A sharply hit ball off the bat of Dethlefson scooted by the shortshop, allowing Polli to score. Libbie McMahan made the Spartans pay by slapping a single to right field to score Dethlefson before Leah Polson kept the line moving by drawing a walk.
Starks recorded her first RBI of the day when her ground out plated McMahan from third base. Nakahara concluded the rally with her base hit through the right side that brought Polson around to score, capping off the four-run inning.
After surrendering a hit with one out in the third inning, Sawai found her groove, retiring 12 straight hitters for nearly four innings of perfect ball.
The Aggies put the game out of reach in the fifth inning when they pushed across three more runs. Dethlefson set the table by roping a single up the middle and McMahan followed by reaching base via a hit-by-pitch. Polson extended her hitting streak to three games with a knock that loaded the bases for Starks. With the bases juiced, the Aggie first baseman came up with the biggest swing of the day, ripping a double down the left field line to clear the bases and solidify the final score line of 7-2.
GAME NOTES
» Sawai struck out five Spartans hitters.
» Starks drove in four runs for UC Davis.
» UC Davis' highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Aggies out-hit the Spartans at an 8-6 clip.
» Dethlefson stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 27 San Jose State hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out five.
» Starks led the Aggies at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and four RBI.
» San Jose State was led offensively by sophomore Shay McDowell, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Freshman Ava Conti led the Spartans pitching staff, throwing two shutout innings.
UP NEXT
The Ags host their Causeway Rivals, Sacramento State, tomorrow in the final game of the NorCal Kickoff. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets and Flexbooks are now available for purchase. Fans can head over to ucdavisaggies.com/tickets, email aggietickets@ucdavis.edu, or call (530) 752-2471 for more information.
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