UC Davis won the bookends of the three-game series against the now 18-17 Highlanders who came into Davis with a five-game win streak. Freshman pitcher Justine Vela was fantastic over the weekend with 20 strikeouts and only two earned runs allowed in the Aggies’ two wins.
Although UC Davis was shutout in the second game, the Aggies furiously responded in the rubber match, winning 9-1 in the shortened five-inning game. The experience from junior Megan Guzman and seniors Kelly Harman and Rachel Miller proved vital as they combined to tally 13 of the team’s 18 hits in the series.
The series win gave UC Davis a 2-1 Big West Conference record to start the league campaign.
Sunday — UC Davis 3, UC Riverside 1
Vela dominated from the start with four straight strikeouts and would not allow a Highlander hit until the sixth inning in the series opener.
The Aggie offense also provided quick run support with freshman Cassandra Ginnis scoring one of her two runs on the day off of a Miller sacrifice fly in the first inning.
Although UC Davis was held to three hits on the day, patience at the plate paid off with the Aggie offense combining for seven walks.
Three Aggie errors in the sixth inning errors allowed the Highlanders to stretch their lead to 8-0. UC Riverside was also able to hold off multiple Aggie rally attempts in the fourth and sixth innings to put away the game.
DOUG BONHAM can be reached at sports@theaggie.org.
