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 Jessica Hancock picked up her 13th win in game one. (Photo by Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise) |
April 18, 2009
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - On a day that featured decidedly contrasting games, UC Davis and UC Riverside split a Big West Conference softball doubleheader at Harrison Field. The Aggies belted three home runs on their way to a 10-5 victory in the first game before a pitching duel resulted in a 1-0 victory for the Highlanders in game two. Bianca Castillo, Mariussa Araujo and Kelly Harman each homered for UC Davis (21-20, 5-6 Big West). In addition, Erin Emde went 5-for-6 on the day.
UC Davis put three runs on the board in the second inning of the first game. Castillo and Jessica Gonzalez set the table with singles to lead off the frame. Later, with the bases loaded, Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. Emde followed with a two-run single to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead.
UCR (16-24, 5-6 Big West) came back with three unearned runs in the third to tie the game. In the fourth, Castillo launched a one-out solo homer to left center to give the Aggies a 4-3 lead. The Highlanders countered in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off homer by Kameryn Hebenton to tie the game at 4-4.
In the top of the fifth, the Aggies took advantage of the long ball once again. Emde led off with a single. Caitlin Low came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Sarah Axelson. After Harman was hit by a pitch, Araujo drilled a three-run shot to center to put UC Davis on top 7-4.
UC Riverside closed within 7-5 in the sixth before the Aggies put up a another three-spot in the seventh. Emde and Axelson started the inning with walks, and Harman belted a three-run homer to make it 10-5. It was the freshman's team-leading fourth homer of the year.
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Jessica Hancock improved to 13-9 on the year with six strong innings of work in the circle. The senior allowed just one earned run while striking out four.
In the second game, UCR scored the lone run in the first inning as each team had five singles. Emde had two of the Aggies' five hits. Alex Holmes suffered the loss despite scattering five hits in six innings. She walked two and struck out four.
The two teams conclude their three-game series Sunday at noon.
