RENO, Nev. (Interstat) — In a wild, high-scoring affair that defied pregame projections, the UC Davis Aggies built a massive early lead and then survived a furious late rally by the Nevada Wolf Pack to secure an 11-9 victory Tuesday night at William Peccole Park.

The game’s most critical sequence came in the top of the seventh inning, which proved to be the decisive counterpunch. Leading 5-2, UC Davis saw its designated hitter, Ethan Felix, step to the plate with two runners on. Felix, who entered the game in a slump after going hitless in his previous outing, launched a three-run homer to deep left field off Nevada reliever Luke Schat. The blast broke the game open, stretching the Aggies’ lead to 8-2 and providing what would become essential cushion.

Felix finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs, spearheading an Aggies offense that amassed 16 hits. Joey Wright went a perfect 3 for 3 with an RBI and three runs scored, while Kai Mault drove in two runs.

The victory improved UC Davis to 13-17 overall, while Nevada fell to 15-12. Pregame analytics heavily favored the Wolf Pack, with Interstat’s game simulator projecting a 7-2 Nevada win and its ELO system giving the home team a 63.1% probability of victory.

UC Davis methodically built its lead early, scoring single runs in the second and third innings before a four-run outburst in the fourth. Tyler Howard’s two-run double highlighted the fourth-inning rally, which chased Nevada starter Aiden Pollock. The Aggies’ bullpen, led by Jack Pezzolo and Peter Storjohann, provided four hitless innings of relief to maintain control through the middle frames.

Nevada’s offense, held largely in check for seven innings, erupted for a seven-run bottom of the eighth to turn a blowout into a nail-biter. The inning featured a three-run homer from Sean Yamaguchi and RBI hits from Rominic Quiban, Mikey Cruz Jr. and Junhyuk Kwon. The Wolf Pack sent 12 batters to the plate, collected six hits and forced UC Davis to use four pitchers in the frame.

Yamaguchi was the standout for Nevada, going 2 for 5 with two home runs and four RBIs. His second homer, a solo shot in the ninth, brought the Wolf Pack within the final margin. Jacob Doyle added two RBIs for Nevada, which finished with 15 hits but left a potential tying run in the on-deck circle.

The Aggies’ bullpen, despite the eighth-inning troubles, ultimately sealed the win. After Yamaguchi’s ninth-inning homer, Nevada’s Noah Blythe singled with two outs but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit, ending the game.

Key relief performances came from UC Davis’s Storjohann and Pezzolo, who each tossed two scoreless innings, and Nevada’s Ryan Oakes, who provided three shutout innings of middle relief. Andres Castro pitched a perfect ninth for the Wolf Pack.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ last meeting on March 1, when Nevada defeated UC Davis 11-5 in Davis. The Aggies now lead the season series 2-1.

UC Davis opens a three-game home series with Cal State Bakersfield on Friday. Nevada begins Mountain West Conference play at home against San Jose State, also on Friday.