DAVIS, Calif. - The University of California, Davis (UCD) Aggies baseball team jumped ahead early in the opening game of their Big West Series hosting the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Highlanders at Dobbins Stadium.
A solo Aggie homerun against UC Riverside's starter, Cruz Barrios, set the Highlanders back 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
In the second inning, an RBI double from the Aggies extended their lead, 2-0. A two-run homer and an RBI fielders choice play later in the inning cemented it, with the Highlanders trailing 5-0.
In the fourth and fifth innings, Highlander offense mounted a five-run comeback to even the score with the Aggies.
UC Davis opened the top of the fourth walking Anthony Mata and Anthony McFarland in quick succession. Alfredo Capacete advanced the pair of Highlander baserunners when he grounded out down the third base line. Sean McLeod was walked to load the bases.
Jacob Badawi drove Mata and McFarland home with an RBI single through the left side, cutting the Aggies lead down 5-2.
A four-run fifth inning propelled the Highlanders into the lead, 6-5. Jacob Shanks got started with a leadoff single, quickly stealing second base after his hit to land himself in scoring position.
Andrew Gamez advanced Shanks to third base with a sacrifice ground ball.
A trio of walks brought in the first run of the inning. Anthony Mata walked to get on base and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Anthony McFarland was walked to load the bases. Mason Grace walked in Shanks.
Capacete singled to score Mata, bringing the Highlanders within a run of the Aggies, 5-4. After a UC Davis pitching change, the Aggies walked Jayden Lopez to send in Anthony McFarland with the tying run.
Up next, Jacob Badawi singled to bring the Highlanders ahead, scoring Mason Grace before the Aggies could get out of the inning.
After the two-inning show of UCR force, the Aggies answered back with an equalizing run in the bottom of the fifth, to knot the game up again at 6-6.
A pair of singles that scored three runs, followed by an Aggie grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning, tilted the game decidedly in favor of the home team, as the Highlanders struggled against an overwhelming UCD offense.
The Highlanders chipped away, scoring runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn't enough to match the seven-run frame from the Aggies in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Badawi hit a two-RBI single up the middle to score Lopez and McFarland.
In the eighth, McFarland hit a two-RBI single, scoring Mata and Gamez.
In the final frame, Dominic Martinez tripled with one out to score Badawi and get the Highlanders within two runs of the Aggies. UCD got out of the inning without letting up another Highlander run and took the first of the weekends' three games with a final score of 13-11.
Badawi went big for UC Riverside's offense, hitting four for five with five RBI and two stolen bases. Anthony McFarland went two for three with three runs, two RBI and two walks.
Cameron Tracy threw 2.2 spotless innings in relief of Barrios, who struck out three batters in his 1.1 inning appearance.
The Highlanders will be back tomorrow, Saturday April 22 for game two. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
