Sports

It was a weekend of firsts for the UC Davis baseball team. The Aggies claimed their first series-opening victory on Friday in a14-8win over UC Riverside.It was their first win in their past nine games. On Saturday,UC Davis came back with another win over the Highlanders to claim its first series victory,winning back-to-back games for the first time all season. UC Riverside salvaged the series with a win on Sunday,but UC Davis still walks away from its weekend of firsts with momentum.It’ll be looking for more of the same when it travels to face Santa Clara today at6p.m.

Bob Biggs wears the reminder around his wrist. The UC Davis football coach and his team have been sporting blue wristbands reading “start fast and finish strong” during their six-week spring practice session.

In the midst of an11-game losing streak – its longest of the season – the UC Davis softball team went into its final Big West Conference series this weekend looking to finish the season on a positive note. The Aggies snapped their skid in Friday’s first game,but dropped their final two contests to give Cal State Northridge the series win.

Junior Anikia Jackson became the first heptathlete in school history to score points at the Big West Conference Championships,taking fourth with a score of4,821.A Bakersfield College transfer,Jackson’s total gives the Aggies five points heading into the main Big West Championships meet this weekend in Irvine,Calif.

Whether it’s heard at theAugusta National Golf Club in The Masters or on a miniature golf course,there’s an unmistakable sound that comes with a golf ball finding its way into the bottom of the cup. As Alice Kim listened to her last ball rattle around in it’s plastic home just beneath the green,she couldn’t help but smile.

Will Guthrie and Robert Neely became the first two Aggie decathletes to score at the Big West Conference Championships in Irvine,Calif.on Saturday,placing sixth and eighth,respectively. The scoring combo gives UC Davis four points heading into the full Big West Championships this weekend.

Teams:UC Davis vs.UC Riverside Records:Aggies,7-36(1-14); Highlanders28-14 (7-8) Where:Dobbins Stadium When:Friday at2:30p.m.; Saturday at1p.m.; Sunday at1p.m. Who to watch:Reliever Andy Suiter has been mowing down hitters as of late. In his last two appearances,the sophomore has pitched a combined four scoreless innings.He’s struck out a total of six California and Long Beach State hitters over that stretch.

Russ Pfaff is enjoying a breakout sophomore year for the UC Davis track and field team,leading the team in the3,000m steeplechase.Entering the season with a personal record well off the regional qualifying time of9:07.00,Pfaff shattered that time on Apr.24at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational in Berkeley.In taking second in that race,he clocked an8:48.81to not only move to second all-time at UC Davis,but to also move to No.2in the West Region and No.9in the nation.

Event:Big West Conference Multi-Event Championships; Sac State Open Where:Anteater Stadium – Irvine,Calif.; Hornet Stadium – Sacramento,Calif. When:Friday and Saturday,all day; Saturday at10:30a.m. Who to watch:When Will Guthrie and Robert Neely get into their blocks for the100m,they will be the first Aggie decathletes to compete at the Big West Championships. While the main contingent will contest the conference championships a week later,Guthrie and Neely are looking to put some early points on the board to give the Aggies a shot at a Big West title. “I’m very excited going into Big West,” said Guthrie. “This will be my first decathlon that actually counts for something.The goal is to score some points for the team and get us started off right in conference.“

Teams:UC Davis vs.Cal State Northridge Records:Aggies,21-30 (5-13); Matadors,27-20 (7-11) Where:LaRue Field When:Saturday at noon and2p.m.; Sunday at noon Who to watch:The UC Davis pitching staff doesn’t have the second-best ERA in the Big West Conference for no reason. Freshman catcher Rachel Miller has been a mainstay behind the platethis season,starting in all of the Aggies‘ 51games. The Costa Mesa,Calif.native has thrown out12potential base-stealers while committing only five errors.She’s ranked second on the squad in doubles (eight) and first on theteam in sacrifice hits (seven).

On Monday,the UC Davis women’s golf team patiently awaited the news on whether or not it would receive an at-large bid to compete in the NCAA Championships. Last season,UC Davisearned that same at-large bid,going on to have a magical run in the tournament and finish21st place in the country. It was the first year of Division I eligibility for theunrankedAggies,who were dubbed a “Cinderella” by then-head coach Kathy DeYoung.

Event:Big West Conference Multi-Event Championships; Sac State Open Where:Anteater Stadium – Irvine,Calif.; Hornet Stadium – Sacramento,Calif. When:Friday and Saturday,all day; Saturday at10:45a.m. Who to watch:Junior Anikia Jackson has competed in two heptathlons for the Aggies since transferring to UC Davis in the fall. She won both of them. The former junior college state champion in the heptathlon,Jackson is currently ranked fourth in the conference with her score of4,903,set while winning the UC Multi Meet in March. “My goal is to be at5,400at conference,” said Jackson. “The most critical event for me is the sprints and the high jump.Those are major high scoring events.Every second and every inch is crucial in the heptathlon.“