Score: UC Davis 14, Santa Clara 0
Winning Pitcher: Bryan Green (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Brandon Gomez (0-1)
Location:Â Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 4-1, Santa Clara 2-2
Â
The short story: UC Davis made a statement Friday night, controlling all facets of the game as three-pitchers combined to throw a shutout, while the offense took quality at-bats all night on their way to a season-high 14 runs.
Â
FIRST PITCH
- Bryan Green delivered an absolute gem on the mound, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing just three hits and striking out eight
- Green was relieved by Rowen Barnes, who continued the dominance with a scoreless inning of his own, fanning three batters
- Jack Meek closed out UC Davis' combined shutout effort, surrendering only one hit in his lone inning of work
- Nick Leehey spearheaded the Aggies' offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI
- Leehey's three-run homer, a 402-foot blast to the right-center gap, was a highlight of the night
- Tyler Howard also put together a noteworthy night from the plate, posting his best game of the season with a 3-for-4 performance, including a walk and three RBI
- Joey Wright was arguably the most efficient Aggie at the plate, going 1-for-1 with three walks
- UC Davis seized control early, taking a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looking back
- The Aggies out-hit Santa Clara 11-4 and capitalized on scoring opportunities, going 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position
- Green, Barnes, and Meek combined for 11 strikeouts
- UC Davis' offensive success was fueled by key extra-base hits and relentless pressure on Santa Clara's pitching staff, drawing nine walks during the game compared to the Broncos who only drew four
- Santa Clara's offense was led by junior Johnny Luetzow, who went 2-for-3
- On the mound, senior Davis Franklin was a bright spot for the Broncos, throwing two scoreless innings in relief
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis ambushed opposing starter Brandon Gomez in the first inning, plating four runs, highlighted by Leehey's three-run opposite-field home run
- After the four-run first, the Aggies added another four runs in the second inning, extending their lead to 8-0
- In the second, UC Davis scored on an RBI single by Howard, a two-RBI double by Leehey, and a sacrifice fly by Jason Hanson
- The Aggies continued to pile on with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, building a 10-run cushion
- UC Davis added insurance runs in the seventh, capitalizing on Santa Clara's command issues
- A wild pitch brought in one run, while two more scored via bases-loaded walks
- Riley Acosta then drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 14-0
- The exclamation point on the Aggies' dominant performance came in the top of the ninth, when Braydon Wooldridge recorded an outfield assist, throwing out a Santa Clara hitter attempting to stretch a single into a double
Â
UP NEXT: UC Davis will continue with game two tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT, with reigning Big West Pitcher of the Week
Noel Valdez scheduled to start against Santa Clara's Sebastian Schreiber.
Â
