DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — California Baptist outlasted UC Davis 9-8 on Friday afternoon and evening at Dobbins Baseball Complex, taking a series sweep with its third straight win over the Aggies.

The Lancers pounded 15 hits and built a 9-2 lead with a six-run fifth inning. Cole Howarth, serving as pinch hitter and first baseman, delivered a two-run homer and later added an RBI single, finishing 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Connor Ross homered in the eighth and went 2 for 4. The Lancers’ bullpen combined for four shutout innings, with Michael Malki throwing two hitless frames and Andrew Rudd fanning two in 1 2-3 scoreless innings.

UC Davis, which had 11 hits, rallied in the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Elijah McNeal crushed a grand slam to left-center, cutting the deficit to 9-7. Ethan Felix homered in the fourth and added an RBI single in the ninth, but the Aggies fell short. Felix went 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Noel Valdez tossed four scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.

California Baptist improved to 43-13; UC Davis dropped to 26-28.