GAME ONE
Score: UC Riverside 3, UC Davis 1
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Amy S. Harrison Softball Field)
Winning Pitcher: Briza Blanco (3-7)
Losing Pitcher: Kenedi Brown (5-10)
Save: Brooke Perez (1)
GAME TWO
Score: UC Riverside 3, UC Davis 2,
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Amy S. Harrison Softball Field)
Winning Pitcher: Maddie Heinlin (3-7)
Losing Pitcher: Ashley Sawai (3-3)
Records: UC Davis (12-20, 3-8 Big West) | UC Riverside (10-21, 4-7 Big West)
The short story: UC Davis held a late lead in both contests of the series-opening doubleheader at UC Riverside, but the hosts completed two comebacks - including a walk-off in game two - to snatch a pair of victories on Saturday afternoon.
LEADING OFF
- Sarah Starks smacked her third homer of the year in an impressive 3-for-4 showing over the two contest.
- Bella Pahulu enjoyed a nice day at the plate by going 3-for-7 with an RBI.
- UC Riverside was led offensively by senior Gigi Araki, coming up with the crucial two-RBI double in the sixth to lift her team to victory.
- Ashley Sawai was solid in the circle, allowing just three runs in her 6.2 innings of work.
- In the second game, Kat Montuya powered the UC Riverside offense after going 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
THE RUNDOWN (GAME ONE)
- After three scoreless frames, UC Davis threatened when back-to-back base hits from Pahulu and Starks, followed by Maddie Grissom's hit-by-pitch, loaded the bases. The Aggies were unable to capitalize on the two-out rally, however, stranding all three runners.
- Davis' team finally broke the deadlock in the sixth when Pahulu's second hit of the day brought Leah Polson around to score after her leadoff double.
- UC Riverside immediately replied with three runs in the home half of the inning, using Gigi Araki's two-RBI double to break the game open.
- The Aggies loaded the bases in their last chance at the plate, but Anna Dethlefson's sharply-hit line drive found the outstretched glove of the UCR second baseman for the final out of the ballgame.
THE RUNDOWN (GAME TWO)
- UC Davis went to work in the second inning when Pahulu and Starks roped two consecutive singles to set the table.
- Grissom promptly lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the first run of the game and her the Aggies an early 1-0 lead.
- Kat Montuya's home run in the bottom of the third evened the score at 1-1.
- In the next frame, the Aggies restored their advantage when Starks launched her third homer of the year, a solo shot over the left-field wall.
- UC Davis held a one-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh before the Highlanders put runners on second and third with two outs.
- Elise Nishimura came up with the big hit, blooping a two-RBI single to right field to bring the tying and winning runs across to walk it off.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Dethlefson's six-game hitting streak was snapped in the first contest.
- UC Riverside earned its first win over the Aggies since 2022.
- Starks hit her third home run of the season.
ON DECK
The Ags wrap up the three-game set tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
