Score: UC Davis 3, Gonzaga 1
Winning Pitcher: Noel Valdez (1-0)
Save: Carter Delaney (1)
Losing Pitcher: Miles Gosztola (0-1)
Location: Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 1-1, Gonzaga 1-1
The short story: Noel Valdez,
Max Hippensteel, and
Carter Delaney were lights out, limiting Gonzaga to just one run, while timely hitting propelled UC Davis to a 3-1 victory over Gonzaga on Saturday afternoon, securing their first win of 2025.
FIRST PITCH
- Valdez delivered six shutout innings, allowing just four hits, no walks, and striking out three
- Delaney lived up to his preseason recognition as a top-100 reliever by D1Baseball, pitching two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none, and striking out two to earn the save
- At the plate, the Aggies were paced by Joey Wright, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI
- Senior Alex Gouveia also had a strong day at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI
- Korey Williams, in his Aggie debut, kickstarted the offense by driving in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly
- Leighton Helfrick was arguably UC Davis' most impactful position player, helping secure a much-needed insurance run in the fifth
- Helfrick led off the inning with a bunt single and later scored, while also making a crashing catch against the wall in the top of the third to halt Gonzaga's scoring chances
- For Gonzaga, Sam Stem led the Bulldogs offensively, going 2-for-3, while Finbar O'Brien and Ryan Hernandez allowed no hits through 3.1 IP
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Aggies got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning
- Hits from Riley Acosta and Mark Wolbert set the stage for Williams to bring in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field
- Gouveia followed with a single through the 5-6 hole, scoring Wolbert from second to make it 2-0
- Gonzaga got a hit to begin the top of the fifth but a key 3-6-1 double play in the next at-bat ended the scoring threat
- In the bottom half, the UC Davis lineup showcased its athleticism as Helfrick led off with a bunt single, stole second, and eventually scored on a single to right-center by Wright
- Gonzaga scored its lone run in the seventh to make it 3-1
- UC Davis turned to Delaney late, as the El Dorado Hills native closed out the final two frames, allowing no hits and striking out two to secure UC Davis' first win of the year
UP NEXT: UC Davis will look to take the series tomorrow against Gonzaga with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. PT and
Tyler Wood set to toe the rubber.
