Score: UC Davis 10, UC Santa Barbara 6
Location: Davis, Calif. (Dobbins Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 9-9 (4-2), UC Santa Barbara 14-4 (4-2)
THE SHORT STORY: The UC Davis baseball team made a massive statement on Sunday afternoon, overpowering UC Santa Barbara 10-6 to claim the rubber match and secure a monumental weekend series victory at Dobbins Stadium. Fueled by a relentless 15-hit offensive explosion and a breakout day at the plate from Keenan Anzai, the Aggies clinched their fourth consecutive series win and captured their first series victory over the Gauchos since 2018.
LEADING OFF
- After serving as the starting pitcher less than 24 hours ago, Keenan Anzai delivered a standout performance offensively, pacing the Aggies by going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
- Tyler Howard was a major run-producing force, finishing 2-for-4 with a triple and a team-high tying three RBIs.
- Zach Story continued his stellar weekend in the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs.
- Elijah McNeal provided early fireworks, leaving the yard with a solo home run.
- Ryan Lee set the table effectively, collecting a pair of hits (including a double) and scoring twice.
- On the mound, starter Jack Pezzolo set an excellent tone by tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and striking out five.
- Pezzolo was followed up by Taylor Werth and Jack Meek, with the pair combining for 1.1 innings.
- Matthew Barnes II earned the win in relief (1-0), allowing just one run on two hits over his 2.0 solid innings of work.
- Peter Storjohann and Tyler Wood closed the game out with Storjohann going 1.2 innings against his former team, while Wood threw 1.1 innings to slam the door on the 10-6 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UC Davis jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning when McNeal launched a solo home run deep into left field.
- The Aggies expanded their advantage with a three-run surge in the third inning. Anzai ignited the rally with a solo blast to left field. Story then ripped an RBI double to plate Lee, and Korey Williams immediately followed with an RBI single through the right side to give UC Davis a commanding 4-0 lead.
- UC Santa Barbara got on the board with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to cut the deficit, but the Aggie offense completely broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth.
- In the sixth frame, Anzai delivered a clutch two-run double into right-center field to score Kai Mault and Eli Burnham. Tyler Howard then stepped to the plate and ripped a two-run triple into the gap, scoring Story and Anzai to extend the UC Davis lead to 8-2.
- The Gauchos took advantage of an Aggie fielding error to push across three unearned runs in the top of the eighth, trimming the lead to 9-5.
- However, UC Davis immediately answered the bell in the bottom half of the eighth when Howard laced an RBI single to left field to score Lee, providing much needed insurance.
- UC Santa Barbara managed one final run in the top of the ninth, but the Aggie bullpen successfully slammed the door to finalize the 10-6 series-clinching triumph.
UP NEXT
Riding the momentum of four straight series victories, UC Davis will look to keep rolling as they prepare for their upcoming weekend at Cal Poly, starting on Saturday, March 21.
