Teams: UC Davis vs. Cal State Northridge
Records: Aggies, 11-20 ; Matadors, 16-16
Where: Matador Diamond – Northridge, Calif.
When: Friday, noon, 2 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m.
Who to watch: Altogether, Kylie Fan has scored seven runs on 11 hits this season.
The sophomore from San Ramon, Calif. drove in two runs to help the Aggies in their Causeway Cup victory against Sacramento State last week.
Not only that, but Fan also knocked in the game-winning run in the following game against Saint Mary’s.
Did you know? UC Davis has yet to win a Big West Conference-opening series.
The Aggies kicked off last year’s league play against Long Beach State, where they were outscored by just one run in the three games and posted a combined 20 hits over Long Beach State’s 18. Their efforts resulted in a 1-2 finish.
Preview: After recapturing the Causeway Cup last week in a 7-5 win over the Hornets, the Aggies look to open conference play with a bang.
“I am so proud of the team and its ability to step up and bring home the Causeway Cup,” said coach Karen Yoder.
With 11 non-conference wins under its belt, UC Davis has shown a solid effort both offensively and defensively.
The Aggies’ offense has posted an on base percentage of .328, a combined 25 stolen bases and 79 RBI.
The UC Davis pitching staff has held its opponents to a batting average of .306 and is currently ranked second in the conference with a total of 171 strikeouts.
Last week alone, Alex Holmes and Dana Waldusky struck out 30 batters collectively in five games.
On Friday night, the Aggies will visit the home of the Matadors in the first conference contest.
Cal State Northridge leads the league in hits (218) and runs (129) while ranking second in the conference with an on base percentage of .351 and a batting average of .265.
Last season when the Aggies faced the Matadors at La Rue Field, Holmes posted a win in relief in the first game of the series and contributed to the Aggie offense with five hits in the three games.
– Grace Sprague
