Score:  UC Davis 3, Saint Mary's 2
Winning Pitcher: Caroline Grimes (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Ella Thurman (1-1)
Location: Davis, Calif. (La Rue Field)
Records: UC Davis 3-2, Saint Mary's 2-3
 
The short story: Behind a dominating complete game performance by senior pitcher Caroline Grimes, UC Davis softball wrapped up its weekend hosting the 2026 NorCal Kickoff by holding off Saint Mary's late to secure a third win in four games for the Aggies.
 
LEADING OFF

• Grimes finished her spectacular weekend by going the full seven, giving up just four hits and two earned runs while striking out three Gaels
• Naomi Kalanetra had a big day at the dish, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, adding a stolen base
• Keira Brady went 2-for-3 with one run scored and a stolen base for her own solid day at the plate
• Alyssa Dethlefson, Marley Panziera and Rylee Reeves all added hits, while Brady and Panziera each scored runs

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Saint Mary's scored runs in the third and sixth frames, but around those innings Grimes was nearly lights out
• The first run for the Gaels came on an RBI single, but in that play the final out was recorded by the Aggie defense when Brady's throw from center field was cut off by Sydney Polli before being relayed to Kalanetra who placed a sweeping tag on what could have been a second run
• In the sixth, Grimes again survived early trouble and kept just one run on the board after getting a pair of pop ups to sit Saint Mary's down
• The Aggies did their damage in the fourth, getting all three run on four hits
• It started when Brady smacked a one out single, and after stealing second a Panzeria double moved her to third
• Kalanetra then singled home both Aggies for a pair of RBIs giving UC Davis a lead it wouldn't give back at 2-1
• Abby Lee's eventual sacrifice fly would score Kalanetra for the third run of the frame
• Lee's sac fly scored what would eventually be the winning run keeping UC Davis ahead of the Gaels even after their one run in the sixth
• In the seventh, Grimes worked her way through the frame and with two outs and one runner on she got the final batter for Saint Mary's to fly out to center to lock in the Aggie 3-2 victory

 
TICKETS: General admission for all games runs $13 while youth (3-13), UC Davis staff members and fans Seniors (65+) can get in the door for $10. Group outings (minimum of 10) can get their tickets at $10 a piece. With the $80 Flexbook, fans receive 10 general admission ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for any of the four home meets during the season in any combination desired. Fans can secure their spot at La Rue Field by hitting the link, by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
 
  Read Full Article