DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis concluded the Capital Classic with a pair of contests at La Rue Field, grabbing a dominant run-rule victory over Wagner in the afternoon after falling to Santa Clara earlier in the day.
The Aggies returned to their home field to finish up their matchup against the Broncos after the game was halted due to darkness on Saturday evening. The game was resumed in the top of seventh inning with the visitors ahead 8-3. After the restart on Sunday afternoon, Santa Clara held on to their lead and concluded its weekend with a win over UC Davis.
The final game of the weekend saw the Aggies delivered their most complete performance of the young season, tallying a season-high nine runs after an explosive fourth inning to down the visiting Seahawks and snap a four-game skid.
Caroline Grimes earned the third win of her sophomore campaign after tossing a five-inning, one-hit shutout. She faced just three batters over the minimum in her near-perfect outing.
Libbie McMahan, Bella Pahulu, Leah Polson, and Grace Kilday each racked up three hits over the two contests as the bats came alive in the win over Wagner.
GAME 1 | Santa Clara 8, UC Davis 3
The Aggies got the perfect start with they put together a massive two-out rally, scoring three runs in the first frame highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Pahulu. Polson started the rally with a walk and then Starks followed by pulling a ground ball through the left side. Sarah Nakahara brought the first run home with her base hit to left and then Pahulu provided the big swing, a sharp line drive to right to plate Starks and Nakahara to cap the three-run inning.
Santa Clara answered with two runs in the second after an error sparked their comeback. Things would go from bad to worse for UC Davis in the fourth when the defensive miscues continued to mount. Three errors allowed the Broncos to post a five-spot and take full control of the contest. After scoring once more in the fifth inning, Santa Clara built an 8-3 lead before the game was halted due to darkness in the top of the seventh.
Play resumed on Sunday afternoon, but the scoreline did not change and the Broncos came away with the 8-3 win.
GAME 2 | UC Davis 9, Wagner 0
UC Davis scored a season-high nine runs in the final game of the Capital Classic, with all of the scoring taking place in a thunderous fourth inning. Nakahara walked and stole second before Pahulu banged a single up the middle. The two runners advanced to second and third base to set the table for Kilday, who ripped one through the left side to get her team on the board.
A sacrifice fly from
Marley Panziera scored Pahulu from third base and
Anna Dethlefson notched her second triple of the year to bring Kilday across. Dethlefson scored following McMahan's base hit to center before a couple more knocks from Starks and Pahulu made it five consecutive hits for Davis' team. Wagner's pitching staff started to lose control when three straight walks allowed the Aggies to make it a nine-run fourth inning when all was said and done.
Grimes did the rest, slamming the door shut over in the fifth inning to clinch the run-rule victory.
GAME NOTES
» Grimes tossed a one-hit shutout for the Aggies.
» Every UC Davis starter reached base safely in the win.
» Four Aggies had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Aggies out-hit the Seahawks at an 11-1 clip.
» Kilday stole two bases in Sunday's game.
» UC Davis went 6-for-11 (.545) with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers limited Wagner to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 19 Wagner hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» The Aggies drew five walks from Wagner pitching.
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