Freshman left fielder Shannon Kaufman went 2-for-3 with an RBI in today's game
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- UC Davis broke a 2-2 tie with an unearned run in both the fifth and seventh innings to defeat Sacramento State, 4-2, in a non-conference softball game Wednesday afternoon at Shea Stadium.
The game was the 90th meeting between the two teams as Sacramento State now owns a 57-33 record in the all-time series.
However, UC Davis (15-12) has now won seven straight meetings between the two teams dating back to 2009, including two games earlier this year. With the loss, the Hornets dropped to 8-15.
Sacramento State committed three errors in today’s game, two of which directly contributed to UC Davis’ final two runs. Both teams combined for 18 hits (eight for the Hornets), and both squads had numerous opportunities to score runs because of constant runners on base.
The Aggies scored the game’s first run in the first inning despite not hitting a ball out of the infield as Kelly Schulze’s infield single allowed Elizabeth Santana to score. The Hornets strung together four straight singles in the second inning to tie the game, the last of which came off the bat of Shannon Kaufman which allowed Molly Smith to score.
UC Davis, which never trailed, reclaimed the lead, 2-1, in the third inning after Kylie Fan’s RBI-single scored pinch runner Desiree Chavez. Sacramento State again tied things up in the fourth after Devin Caldwell’s single up the middle scored pinch runner Kelli Frye.
A Hornet fielding error in the fifth inning allowed Santana to score her second run of the game, and a dropped fly ball in the seventh allowed Kelly Harman to score an insurance run.
Sacramento State threatened in the seventh inning, getting the potential winning run to the plate with two outs, but Aggie reliever Alex Holmes got Marissa Navarro to line out and end the game.
Holmes (10-9) got the win, allowing three hits and no runs in 3.1 innings. Jessica Thweat worked the first 3.2 innings before Holmes entered the game with two outs in the fourth.
Sacramento State starter Megan Schaefer (4-5) got the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) in four innings, while freshman Taylor Stroud worked the final three innings of relief.
All but two Hornet starters had at least one hit in the game, including Kaufman who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Sophomore Emily McCormick extended her hitting streak to a career-high tying six games after going 1-for-4.
Sacramento State will take a week off before returning to action on Wednesday, April 6, for a game against ninth-ranked Cal at 3 p.m. Today was the first of a 14-game homestand for the Hornets.
