Score: UC Davis 10, CSUN 6
Winning Pitcher: Noel Valdez (7-3)
Losing Pitcher: Diego Gutierrez (3-7)
Location: Davis, Calif.
Records: UC Davis 27-28 (13-17), CSUN 15-34 (10-20)
The short story: Ethan Felix and
Jaxon Murphy each tallied three hits, combining for four RBIs to power UC Davis past CSUN 10-6 on Senior Day at Dobbins Stadium. The Aggies honored nine graduating seniors—
Riley Acosta,
Carter Delaney,
Bryan Green,
Ethan Felix,
Mark Wolbert,
Nick Leehey,
Alex Gouveia,
Jason Hanson, and
Leighton Helfrick—in an emotional pregame ceremony before erupting for six runs in the third inning to seize control in the regular season finale.
FIRST PITCH
- Felix (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Murphy (3-for-4, 2 RBI) led the offensive charge
- Felix one of the Aggies nine seniors on the day, collected two of his three hits in the six-run third inning, and his third hit with an emphatic double in the seventh
- Noel Valdez earned the win with a spectacular start to close out his season, allowing just three runs (two earned) over six innings
- Hanson delivered a clutch two-run single in the third, finishing his final Aggie game with three RBIs
- Acosta also added a pair of hits in his final game with UC Davis, including an RBI single in the eighth, part of a 13-hit barrage by the Aggies
- Also in the senior led lineup, was Wolbert, the former Freshman All-American who scored a run, Gouveia who had two RBIs and Leehey who recorded one hit to go along with one of the best defensive plays of the year, ranging out for a full-extension diving grab in the eighth
- Delaney, a former Big West Honorable Mention selection, closed his Aggie career in the ninth inning after tossing three scoreless frames in Friday's win, helping secure back-to-back victories for UC Davis
- CSUN's Roberto Gonzalez (3-for-4, RBI) paced the Matadors, while Jackson Banuelos tossed two scoreless relief innings
- A key factor today was the Aggies success from the plate with runners in scoring position (6-for-13, .462) and their ability to out-hit CSUN at a 13-11 clip
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 1-0, UC Davis exploded in the third inning, plating six runs
- Hanson's two-run single and Murphy's two-run single highlighted the outburst
- CSUN trimmed the deficit to 6-3, but the Aggies responded in the seventh on Felix's RBI double, extending the lead to 8-3
- After the Matadors closed to 8-5, UC Davis sealed the win with two runs in the eighth, including Acosta's RBI single, for a 10-6 final
- The senior-laden lineup and bullpen held firm, securing the series victory in front of an emotional home crowd
