DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis won in thrilling fashion on opening day when Maddie Grissom's clutch base hit plated the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk it off against Middle Tennessee in the first game of the NorCal Kickoff hosted at La Rue Field.
Tatum Wentworth exploded for three hits in her perfect 3-fo-3 day at the plate, driving in a run. Setting the table towards the top of the order was Leah Polson, who went 2-for-5 with a walk in the two contests.
It was a memorable day for some young Aggies as Bella Holtz earned her first career start and impressed in her debut, picking up her first base hit at the collegiate level. Sydney Polli and Marley Panziera also received their first starts and freshman pitcher Ashley Sawai stepped into the circle for the first time.
In game two, the Aggies couldn't get the bats going and Saint Mary's came away with a 6-0 victory.
GAME 1 | UC Davis 4, Middle Tennessee 3
Senior Kenedi Brown got the ball to throw the first pitch of the 2024 season and enjoyed a decent outing, tossing five innings, surrendering two earned runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five. The right-hander worked out of a couple jams before Middle Tennessee tagged her for a pair of runs in the top of the third.
UC Davis answered in the bottom of the fourth when Libbie McMahan ripped a double in the gap before Sarah Starks blasted one off the left field wall for a pair of doubles that resulted in the Aggies' first run of the game. Wentworth stepped to the plate and promptly tied the game by slapping a single to left.
Brown settled down after a chaotic third frame, throwing two consecutive scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Caroline Grimes to start the sixth.
After a scoreless fifth frame, the Blue Raiders manufactured a run to regain the lead heading into the seventh. The Aggies' exciting rally began with Wentworth's third hit of the day before Grace Kilday was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, Bri Weekes reached on an error in her pinch hit opportunity to load the bases, setting the table for Grissom. The Fremont native delivered the biggest swing of the day when her base hit brought pinch runner Gia Felice and Weekes around to score, winning it for Davis' team.
Grimes (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for UC Davis. The righty went two innings, giving up one run on three hits.
GAME 2 | Saint Mary's 6, UC Davis 0
UC Davis mustered just one hit in the second game of the day and Saint Mary's came through offensively, scoring twice in the first, third, and seventh frames respectively to earn a convincing 6-0 win.
The Aggies were unable to advance a runner past second base in the game as they were no-hit until Polson's single in the fourth inning.
GAME NOTES
» Wentworth had three base knocks in the game for UC Davis.
» Brown struck out five Raiders hitters.
» UC Davis' highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed two runs across.
» UC Davis went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» UC Davis pitchers faced 30 Middle Tennessee hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and six fly balls while striking out five.
» Wentworth led the Aggies at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.
» Middle Tennessee was led offensively by senior Amaya Harris, who went 2-for-3 with a double.
» Senior Kamryn Carcich led the Raiders pitching staff, throwing six innings of four-run ball.
UP NEXT
The Ags will host San Jose State tomorrow in the second day of the NorCal Kickoff. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets and Flexbooks are now available for purchase. Fans can head over to ucdavisaggies.com/tickets, email aggietickets@ucdavis.edu, or call (530) 752-2471 for more information.
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