Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

FRESNO, CA - California sophomore right-hander Adam Gold was one out away from a no-hitter and finished with a complete game one-hit performance to lead the Golden Bears to a 2-0 victory over Fresno State Saturday at Beiden Field. Cal won its third game in a row to improve to 7-4 on the season, while the Bulldogs dropped their third straight to fall to 3-7 overall.

Gold turned in his first career complete game performance while striking out a career-high tying 10 batters. Bulldog senior catcher Brandon Marcelli singled in the hole at short to break up Gold's no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth. It would have been the first no-hitter for a Bear pitcher since Brian Duffy and Steve Kaia combined for a no-hitter Feb. 11, 1978 in a 12-0 victory over Cal State Hayward. Fresno State was shut out for the first time since April 20, 2003 at Hawaii (2-0). Gold is now 3-0 on the season with a 0.68 ERA and has 32 strikeouts in 26.3 innings.

Cal senior third baseman Jeff Dragicevich lined a run scoring single to center field with one out in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Dragicevich plated junior second baseman Matt Einspahr, who had hit a double. Sophomore shortstop Allen Craig socked his second home run of the season with a solo shot in the eighth inning to give the Bears a two-run cushion. Allen also singled and went 2-4 to lead the club at the plate.

Bulldog starter Michael Cooper (0-1) yielded a run on four hits and a walk while striking out a career high tying six over 5.2 innings to pick up the loss.

The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m. where the Bears will look to sweep a three-game series from Fresno State for the first time since 1986. Cal right-hander Kyle Crist (1-1, 3.06) is scheduled to oppose Fresno State freshman southpaw Brandon Miller (0-0, 0.00).

California		000	010	010	-	2	5	0
Fresno State		000	000	000	-	0	1	2

Cooper, Quinonez (6), Ball (9), Garza (9), and Marcelli;
Gold, and Grossman. W- Gold (3-0). L- Cooper (0-1).
S- None. Hrs: FS: None; Cal: Craig (2). T: 2:16. Att: 2260.