GAME ONE
Score: UC Davis 3, UC Santa Barbara 2
Winning Pitcher: Ashley Sawai (10-12)
Losing Pitcher: Ava Bradford (2-3)
Records: UC Davis 14-33 (8-15), UC Santa Barbara 26-21 (15-8)
Location: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Campus Diamond)
 
GAME TWO
Score: UC Davis 1, UC Santa Barbara 3
Winning Pitcher: Malaya Johnson (16-8)
Losing Pitcher: Caroline Grimes (4-16)
Records: UC Davis 14-34 (8-16), UC Santa Barbara 27-21 (16-8)
Location: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Campus Diamond)

The short story: UC Davis softball split its series finale doubleheader at UC Santa Barbara, ridding a complete game from Ashley Sawai for an opening game victory in the final road trip of the season.
 
LEADING OFF

• Sawai threw a complete seven frames in the first game, allowing just two earned runs while striking out four for her 10th victory of the season
• Gia Felice went an impressive 3-for-6 over the two games, scoring two runs while smacking a triple
• Sydney Polli added to the Aggie offense with a 3-for-6 day, hitting a double and knocking in one run
• Alyssa Dethlefson stole a pair of bases, and went 2-for-4 at the dish with two walks and two runs scored
• Caroline Grimes threw six innings for a complete game in the second seven frames played on the day, allowing just one earned run in the outing

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• The Aggies built out a two-run lead over the opening two frames, with Felice scoring on a bases loaded walk from Reeves to net the Ags first run of the game
• In the second inning, Dethlefson's ability to steal second and force her way to third allowed for the Aggies to score their second run when Mickey Buscemi put the ball in play and the Gaucho shortstop committed an error, making it 2-0 after Defthlefson crossed home on the error
• Sawai battled through the second and third to keep UC Santa Barbara from pulling away, allowing just two runs in each of those innings, before locking in and allowing a run over the final four frames as the Aggies would eventually take the lead
• In the fifth, Felice smashed a triple to right with one out, missing a home run by mere inches as the ball smacked off the top of the wall
• Polli brought Felice home on a sacrifice fly, scoring the go-ahead and eventual winning run
• Sawai then kept UC Santa Barbara under control over the final two innings to preserve the Aggie lead
• And in the seventh with UC Santa Barbara threating, Rylee Reeves made a game winning grab ranging to her left to secure a 3-2 Aggie win in the first game of the doubleheader

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HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• UC Santa Barbara scored the first of two unearned runs on the game in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead
• But following that opening frame, Grimes settled in keeping UC Santa Barbara from crossing the plate for the next four frames while allowing just two hits
• In the fifth the Aggies finally got on the board, with Dethlefson getting the rally started with a walk and a stolen base
• After being moved over to third on a Sophia Eftekhari single to right field, Buscemi singled home Dethlefson with a hit down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1
• But base hits in the sixth inning with one out and another Aggie snafu in the field, led to a pair of Gaucho runs that gave them an eventual game and series winning 3-1 victory

UP NEXT FOR THE AGGIES: UC Davis heads home to honor its seniors and wrap up the 2025 season when UC Riverside comes to La Rue Field from May 2-3 with a doubleheader on May 2 and a single game on May 3. Before the series finale on May 3, the Aggies will honor seniors Bella Holtz, Sophia Eftekhari, Mickey Buscemi and Grace Kilday.
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