Score: UC Davis 8, Cal Poly 2
Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Baggett Stadium)
Records: UC Davis 10-11 (5-4 Big West), Cal Poly 14-8 (8-1 Big West)

THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis delivered a commanding 8-2 victory over Cal Poly on Monday afternoon, breaking open a tight game with emphatic three-run bursts in the seventh and eighth innings. The Aggies' offense, backed by perfectly executed small ball, aggressive baserunning, and clutch hitting, proved too much for the Mustangs to handle as UC Davis secured the series finale.

LEADING OFF

• Kai Mault sparked the Aggies at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored.
• Zach Story was perfect in execution today, dropping down two RBI bunt singles. He finished the day with two hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
• Tyler Howard delivered the biggest blow of the game, breaking the tie with a clutch two-RBI triple. He finished 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
• Korey Williams also provided massive run support late, lacing a two-RBI double to cap the scoring.
• The UC Davis bullpen was lights out, with Peter Storjohann entering in a crucial spot to record two strikeouts and allow zero hits in his 0.2 innings of work. The combination of Tyler Wood and Rowen Barnes then tossed three hitless frames to close it out.
• UC Davis racked up 13 hits as a team, compared to Cal Poly's five.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cal Poly took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Nate Castellon scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ryan Tayman.
• After being held scoreless early, UC Davis broke through to tie the game in the fifth. Mault ripped a triple and was immediately brought home on an RBI single through the left side by Joey Wright.
• The teams traded runs in the sixth. Elijah McNeal lifted a sacrifice fly to score Howard, giving UC Davis a 2-1 lead. However, Cal Poly answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly of their own, keeping the contest knotted at 2-2.
• The Aggies surged ahead in the seventh inning with a massive three-run rally. After Mault doubled, Story laid down a RBI bunt single to bring him home. Moments later, Howard cleared the bases with a booming two-RBI triple to left-center, pushing the UC Davis lead to 5-2.
• UC Davis kept the foot on the gas and extended the lead in the eighth. Ryan Lee sparked the frame with a double and subsequently scored on another perfectly placed RBI bunt single from Story. Williams then put the game completely out of reach, lacing a two-RBI double down the right-field line to cap the scoring at 8-2.
• The Aggies' relief pitchers completely stifled Cal Poly's bats in the final three innings, holding the Mustangs hitless the rest of the way to seal the victory.

UP NEXT
UC Davis returns to action tomorrow, traveling to Stockton to take on Pacific. First pitch against the Tigers is slated for 6 p.m.