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 Alex Holmes went 4-for-6 on the day and had a pair of sacrifice flies in the first game. She also picked up the win in relief in the first game. (Photo by Wayne Tilcock, Davis Enterprise) |
May 8, 2009
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis split a Big West Conference softball doubleheader with Cal State Northridge on Friday at La Rue Field. The Aggies defeated the Matadors, 3-2, in 10 innings in the first game before CSUN countered with a 3-1 victory in the second. Alex Holmes went a combined 4-for-6 with two RBIs as well as a win in the circle for UC Davis (22-31, 6-14 Big West). Marissa Araujo also drove in two runs.
CSUN (28-21, 8-12 Big West) broke out on top of the first game with an unearned run in the top of the third before the Aggies quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. Jessica Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to start the frame. After a force out, Belinda Paine reached on a bunt single. A double steal by Julie Stauder and Paine put runners in scoring position for Holmes, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Stauder with the tying run.
The teams would once again trade runs in the fifth inning. After CSUN took a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning, Gonzalez and Stauder each singled to start the home half of the fifth. A groundout by Paine advanced the runners to second and third. Up next was Holmes, who duplicated her effort from two innings before with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
The score would remain tied for the next four innings despite threats by both teams in the seventh. The Matadors loaded the bases with one out but were thwarted by Jessica Hancock, who forced a pair of ground balls to get out of the jam. The Aggies had the bases loaded with two outs but were also turned away.
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The game would stay 2-2 into the bottom of the 10th. Holmes led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Kelly Harman. Michelle Espiritu came on as a pinch runner and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The next two Aggies, Sarah Axelson and Erin Emde, were intentionally walked to load the bases with still one out. Araujo stepped in and had a pitch hit her in the foot to force in the winning run.
Holmes pitched the 10th to pick up the win in relief of Hancock. Holmes walked one and fanned two in the inning. Hancock pitched nine innings and allowed just one earned run to go along with three strikeouts.
The second game was scoreless into the fifth before the Matadors threatened in the top of the inning. A leadoff double, error and intentional walk eventually loaded the bases with two outs. Paine then made a diving play in center on a line drive by Lauren Olivas to end the inning.
A run-scoring single by Araujo in the bottom of the fifth gave UC Davis a 1-0 lead, but Cal State Northridge came right back with three runs in the top of the sixth to account for the final scoring.
Harman, Stauder and Gonzalez each had two hits on the day.
UC Davis will close out the series and its season Saturday when the two teams begin play in a single game at noon. The game will also precede Senior Day as Hancock, Paine and Stauder will all be honored immediately following the game.
