The UC Davis softball team salvaged a pair of games at the Aggie Stampede after a rainy weekend, splitting on Sunday after a 1-0 loss to Oregon State and 6-0 win over St. Mary’s at La Rue Field.

After the Aggies had just three hits in the first game, Elizabeth Santana sparked the offense in the second game with four hits, four RBIs and a two-run home run. The Aggies had 12 hits in game two and moved to 13-12 with the split. Oregon State finished the day with a 16-8 record while St. Mary’s dropped to 4-11.

“We left way too many runners on base in the first game,” said head coach Karen Yoder. “We have to make sure to jump on balls when we get our pitch. We did a much better job of attacking in the second game. (Santana) did a great job at capitalizing on her pitch and that’s what we were stressing today.”

In game one, both teams struggled to get going on offense with a combined six hits and 14 runners left on base for the game. Oregon State made the most of a run in the top of the fourth, surviving to take a one-run win from UCD.

The Aggies managed to load the bases on the bottom of the second, taking advantage of three walks in the inning. UCD couldn’t turn the walks into runs however, stranding all three on base.

The Beavers generated a run in the top of the fourth, using two hits and a sacrifice fly to score the only run of the game. Desiree Beltran reached base with a one-out single up the middle before stealing second. Ally Kutz singled and advanced on the throw to put runners at second and third with one out. Chandler scored the eventual game-winner with an RBI foul fly-out to left field.

UCD looked to answer in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t score despite a lead-off double. Kelly Schulze knocked out a double to right field to start the inning and was replaced at second by Megan Guzman. Guzman was out at third on the following play on a fielder’s choice. UC Davis had another hit in the inning but a third ground-out stranded two runners.

The Aggies had just one hit in the final three innings, including a one-two-three inning in the seventh, as Oregon State held on for the final 1-0 win.

Paige Hall picked up the win to improve to 5-2 on the season after allowing just two hits in 3.2 innings of work. Alex Holmes took the tough-luck loss and dropped to 7-9, after throwing a complete game three-hitter, while striking out seven and allowing one earned run.

UCD got the offense going early and often in game two, posting a run in the bottom of the first for a lead it would not surrender.

Holmes had a lead-off double in the bottom of the first and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Santana brought home Holmes with an RBI double down the right field line, giving the Aggies a 1-0 advantage.

After a blank inning in the second, the Holmes-Santana duo struck again in the third. Holmes had her second lead-off double of the game before Santana sent out a two-run home run over the left field fence to make the score 3-0.

UCD added two more runs in the fourth, thanks to RBI singles from JJ Wagoner and Santana. The Aggies scored for the third straight inning in the bottom of the fifth, using a Chandler Wagner RBI single to take a 6-0 lead.

Kasie Cochran closed out the game in the circle, throwing two scoreless innings and allowing just one hit en route to the final 6-0 score.

Holmes took the win to improve to 8-9 after two hits and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work. Kimberly Green picked up the loss after allowing four earned runs and six hits in 3.2 innings.

UCD will complete the Aggie Stampede on Tuesday when it hosts Santa Clara in a single game starting at 2:30 p.m.

Comments

comments