DAVIS, Calif. – Backed by a strong start from starting pitcher Noel Valdez, UC Davis bounced back with a 3-1 win over Gonzaga on Saturday on Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium. The Bulldogs and Aggies will square off looking to earn the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
Gonzaga (1-1) and UC Davis (1-1) matched hit totals with six apiece, but the Aggies were able to string theirs together in the fourth and fifth innings, collecting all three runs and five of their six hits in those two frames.
 
Saturday's game two was scoreless entering the bottom of the fourth inning when UC Davis picked up two hits in their first three at bats to put runners on first and second. A passed ball pushed the runners up, allowing a sacrifice fly and a two-out single to put the Aggies up 2-0.
 
Leighton Helfrick led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, stole second, and scored on a one-out single by Joey Wright to extend the UC Davis lead to three. Finbar O'Brien entered with two outs in the fifth to relieve GU starter Miles Gosztola, combining with Ryan Hernandez for three and one-third hitless innings in relief to allow the Bulldogs an opportunity to mount a comeback.
 
Tommy Eisenstat led off the seventh with a double, eventually scoring on a two-out single from Mikey Bell to make it 3-1, but the Aggies would not surrender another hit. Carter Delaney, an All-Big West pitcher in 2024, entered in the eighth and completed a clean six-out save, striking out two without allowing a baserunner.
 
Valdez threw six shutout innings for UC Davis to earn the win, surrendering just four hits while striking out three and walking zero. Gosztola was tabbed with the loss on four and two-third innings, allowing two earned runs with three strikeouts and two walks.
 
UP NEXT
Gonzaga and UC Davis will battle in Sunday's rubber match at 1 p.m. No stream will be available, but live stats can be found at www.gozags.com.