DAVIS, Calif. (Interstat) — In a wild Saturday evening contest that saw all 12 runs scored in the first three innings, the UC Davis Aggies rallied from an early five-run deficit to defeat the Nevada Wolf Pack 7-5 at Dobbins Stadium.

The game’s pivotal sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the bottom of the first inning and set the tone for the comeback. After Nevada sent 12 men to the plate and scored five runs in a chaotic top of the first—aided by two Aggie errors—UC Davis responded immediately against Nevada starter Brainard. Zach Story and Tyler Howard worked a walk and a single, respectively, bringing catcher Evan Gentil to the plate with two on. Gentil, the top star for UC Davis, crushed a three-run homer to left field, instantly slicing the deficit to 5-3 and electrifying the home crowd.

The Aggies’ offense did not relent. In the bottom of the second, they completed the comeback and seized the lead for good. Elijah McNeal singled and Braydon Wooldridge walked before Gentil drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, making it 5-4. Jaxon Murphy then delivered the decisive blow, a two-run double to right center that scored Wooldridge and Howard, giving UC Davis a 6-5 advantage. Wooldridge added a crucial insurance run in the third with an RBI single that plated Lee, capping the scoring at 7-5.

From there, the story became the dominance of the UC Davis bullpen. After starter Keenan Anzai allowed five runs (only two earned) over four innings with eight strikeouts, the Aggie relievers combined for five shutout frames. Tyler Wood was first out of the pen, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Taylor Werth followed with 1 2/3 perfect innings, and Rowen Barnes closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, securing his first save of the season.

The Aggies’ pitching quartet held Nevada to just four hits over the final five innings, stifling any attempt at a rally. Nevada’s Dobie was a bright spot offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, but the Wolf Pack stranded key runners in the fifth and seventh innings.

With the win, UC Davis evened its overall record at 5-5 and clinched the series victory after winning Friday’s opener 5-4. Nevada fell to 3-5. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Nevada a 55.90 percent probability to win.

Gentil finished 1-for-3 with the home run, a walk, and four RBIs, continuing a strong stretch at the plate. Murphy drove in two runs for the Aggies, who out-hit the Wolf Pack 10 to 9. The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.