UC DAVIS USES BIG EARLY LEAD TO CRUISE TO RUBBER GAME VICTORY OVER BASEBALL

3/11/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- UC Davis scored five runs in the first inning, and starter Jeff Reekers pitched eight strong innings to lead the Aggies to a 7-3 victory over Sacramento State in a non-conference baseball game Sunday afternoon at Hornet Field.

The victory gave UC Davis the series victory over Sacramento State as the teams had split the first two meetings on Friday and Saturday. The Aggies improved to 6-11 with the victory while Sacramento State dropped to 5-13.

Reekers (1-2) picked up his first win of the season, allowing three runs and five hits with just one walk over 8.0 innings. The Aggies jumped out to a big lead, scoring five times off Sacramento State starter Mick Joyce who was pulled with one out in the first inning. A three-run homer from Kyle Mihaylo highlighted the scoring and was the last batter Joyce faced.

Sacramento State’s bullpen was impressive, allowing just two runs and six hits over the final 8.2 innings, but Reekers made the early lead stand up. The Aggies added to their lead in the third as a two-run double from Matt Dempsey gave the UC Davis a 7-1 lead.

The Hornets, who left just five runners on base, scored once in the first, one more in the fifth and one in the ninth. Gabe Jacobo went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the ninth, and was the only Hornet with a multiple-hit game. Hornet shortstop Patrick Cummins had recorded five straight multiple-hit games until going 0-for-4 today.

Jacobo is now posting team highs in batting average (.347), doubles (5), home runs (3), RBIs (15) and slugging percentage (.569) while going a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts.

Sacramento State reliever Tommy Gonzales kept the Hornets in the game, allowing no runs and three hits in 4.2 innings of work. Tyler Axelrod gave up two hits and no runs while pitching the eighth and ninth innings.

The Hornets return to action on Tuesday, March 13, when the team hosts Pacific at 2 p.m. After the Pacific game, Sacramento State will play eight of its next nine games on the road.