DAVIS, Calif. — Led by junior Mark Wolbert's three-hit performance, the UC Davis Aggies defeated the BYU Cougars 6-2 on Friday. Wolbert added a double and two RBI to lead the Aggies as UC Davis evened up the series against BYU.
The Aggies' pitching staff was dominant, holding the Cougars to just one hit over the final five innings. Freshman Tyler Wood earned his first win of the season, striking out five batters in three scoreless frames of relief. Junior Carter Delaney followed with two hitless innings, fanning two Cougars.
Starting the game for the Aggies was
Mason Lerma who had a solid outing in his second collegiate start. Lerma escaped multiple jams today and showed off his competitive spirit, going 4.0 innings, allowing just two runs while collecting four punch outs.
Junior
Ethan Felix stayed red-hot at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk and two RBI to contribute to the Aggie offense. He knocked in two runs with his first double of the game in the the fourth inning to give the Aggies their first lead of the game.
While not registering a hit, senior
Damian Stone was productive in the Aggie attack, plating two runs with a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
The Aggies will look to secure a series win tomorrow with first pitch against BYU scheduled for 11:00 a.m. (PT) with
Noel Valdez set to toe the rubber.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies overcame an early deficit to beat the Cougars 6-2 on Friday, thanks to a four-run rally in the fourth inning and a stellar pitching performance. Wolbert scored the first run for UC Davis in the third inning, after the Cougars had taken a 1-0 lead in the first.
The Cougars added another run in the top of the fourth, but the Aggies answered back with a vengeance in the bottom half. Felix delivered a two-run double to bring the Aggies ahead in the game, while Stone and Wolbert each drove in a run to make it 5-2 for UC Davis.
The Aggies' pitchers shut down the Cougars for the rest of the game, allowing only one hit out of the bullpen. Wolbert capped off his three-hit day with an RBI single in the eighth, extending the lead to 6-2 giving UC Davis some much needed insurance.
BYU would give the Aggies a scare in the top of the ninth, as they loaded the bases, bringing up the tying run to the plate, but the Aggies were able to slam the door with Delaney retiring the final batter of the game on strikes.
With the win, UC Davis improves their record to 3-2, and evens the series up against BYU.
GAME NOTES
» Wolbert picked up three base knocks in the game for UC Davis.
» Wood struck out five Cougars hitters.
» The Aggies power output was led by Felix, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» UC Davis' highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» UC Davis went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers limited BYU to just 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
» The Aggies drew five walks.
» UC Davis continued to manufacture runs, recording a three combined sacrifice hits.
» Felix led the Aggies at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
» BYU was led offensively by freshman Kuhio Aloy, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Senior Mason Olson led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing 4.2 innings of one-run ball.
