Score: UC Davis 6, Santa Clara 4
Location: Santa Clara, Calif. (Schott Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 2-4, Santa Clara 4-3
THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis rallied from a late deficit to defeat Santa Clara 6-4 on Saturday afternoon at Schott Stadium. A game-changing, three-run home run by Jaxon Murphy in the eighth inning turned the tide, powering the Aggies to a comeback victory over the Broncos, helping tie the series at one game a piece.
LEADING OFF
- Jaxon Murphy delivered the decisive blow of the game for UC Davis, crushing a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning.
- Ryan Lee also went deep for the Aggies, launching the first home run of the season for UC Davis with a solo homer to tie the game early in the second inning.
- On the hill for UC Davis, Carter Speights, Peter Storjohann, Taylor Werth, Mason Lerma and Rowen Barnes combined to allow just four runs, surrendering only two walks.
- Tyler Howard served as a catalyst at the top of the order, going 2-for-4, scoring two runs, and stealing a base.
- Braydon Wooldridge and Evan Gentil each contributed to the offense as well, driving in runs with sacrifice flies.
- Barnes slammed the door out of the bullpen to secure the save, his second one in the early season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Santa Clara took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double.
- The Aggies answered right back in the top of the second when Lee launched a solo home run to level the score at 1-1.
- UC Davis capitalized on a throwing error in the third inning to take a 2-1 edge, as Howard would eventually find his way home on a sacrifice fly from Gentil.
- The Broncos answered with a run of their own to tie the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning with an RBI single.
- The Aggies reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning, pushing the score to 3-2 via a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wooldridge.
- Santa Clara rallied in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together a two-run single to jump back ahead, 4-3.
- In the eighth inning, UC Davis battled back. With two runners on base, Murphy unloaded on a three-run blast, swinging the momentum and giving the Aggies a 6-4 advantage.
- The UC Davis defense and pitching staff held firm down the stretch, executing a crucial double play in the bottom of the eighth before Barnes sealed the victory in the ninth.
UP NEXT
The Aggies will look to secure their first series win of 2026 on Sunday, with first pitch at Stephen Schott Stadium scheduled for noon.
