DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis completed the three-game sweep of California Baptist with a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Sunday afternoon at La Rue Field.
The Aggies (6-4) have now won four straight contests with three of those games decided by just one run.Â
After a tough start to the contest, Ashley Sawai showed some excellent resilience in the circle to earn her second win of the season. The right-hander settled down after a rocky first inning, allowing just one run over the next four frames to allow her team a chance to mount a comeback. She handed the ball off to Kenedi Brown in the sixth and the senior did the rest, earning the six-out save after two spotless innings of work.
Sarah Starks put together a standout day at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. The senior was instrumental to the Aggies' success at the plate in the sweep, going 4-for-8 with a home run during the three-game set.
Bella Pahulu came through with one of the biggest swings of the day, an RBI-double off the left-field wall. This was Pahulu's first hit of the season as she makes her way back into the lineup after returning from injury. Sarah Nakahara went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored while making an impact on the defensive end, cutting down the tying run at the plate with her strong throw from the outfield in the fourth inning.
Marley Panziera notched her first career hit in the contest while UC Davis' leading hitter, Libbie McMahan, recorded a base hit and flashed an excellent glove at shortstop.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
Sawai ran into some trouble in the first frame when the Lancers pushed across three runs on four hits to build an early lead.Â
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The Aggies answered in the bottom of the second, posting a five spot to snatch the lead right back. Starks ignited the rally with a sharp ground ball through the left side and Nakahara followed by slapping a base hit to left.Â
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Starks went on to score on a wild pitch and Pahulu drove Nakahara home with her double off the left field wall after a 10-pitch battle at the plate. The line kept moving when Kilday drew a walk then Panziera enjoyed a big moment for herself, coming up with her first career hit to load the bases for Davis' team.
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Sophia Eftekhari did her job by plating a run with her RBI ground out and
Anna Dethlefson lifted a sacrifice fly to put her team out in front. In a two-strike count, McMahan smacked a line drive to right to cap the five-run inning.
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The visitors got one run back in the top of the fourth, but Nakahara limited further damage by showing off her arm from left field, nailing the potential tying-run at the plate to end the threat.
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Sawai handed the ball off to Brown to start the sixth with a one-run advantage. The Elk Grove native was nothing short of brilliant in her two innings in the circle, tossing two perfect frames to get the Aggies across the finish line. Brown fanned a batter in each inning and made quick work of the Lancers to clinch the sweep.
UP NEXT
The Ags head to Cal on Feb. 28 for a midweek clash. First pitch is scheduled for 2 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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