Feb. 27, 2009

Box Score

LONG BEACH, CALIF. - The California baseball team broke an 8-8 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Long Beach State, 11-8, Friday night at Blair Field in Long Beach. The Golden Bears, led by junior center fielder Brett Jackson's four hits, won their third game in a row to improve to 4-2 on the season. Long Beach State dropped to 2-3.

Sophomore Mark Canha started the rally in the top of the ninth with a one-out walk and later scored on an error by 49er pitcher Dustin Rasco. Jackson and freshman left fielder Danny Oh added RBI singles to give Cal the 11-8 advantage. Bear freshman closer Erik Johnson earned his second save of the season by pitching the bottom of the ninth with two hits, no runs, no walks and striking out two batters.

The winning pitcher for Cal was junior Daniel Wolford (1-1), who pitched the eighth inning (one hit, no runs, one strikeout). Wolford had transferred from Long Beach State to Cal prior to the 2008 season. The losing pitcher for the 49ers was reliever Rasco (1.0 inning, two hits, three runs, no earned runs, one walk, one strikeout). The 49ers were plagued by five errors and gave up four unearned runs.

The Bears made an impressive comeback as they were down 8-4 entering the top of the fifth inning. Cal scored a run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by sophomore Austin Booker, and then exploded for the three runs in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI double by junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus and a two-run double by junior right fielder Blake Smith to tie the game, 8-8.

The Bears had scored a run in the second inning on sophomore first baseman Mark Canha solo home run - his team-leading third home run of the season. Cal added another run in the third inning on an error by Long Beach State third baseman Ryland Sandoval that allowed Jackson to score, and then two runs in the fourth inning on a fielding error by 49er right fielder Jordan Casas and an RBI single by Oh.

Cal finished the game with 16 hits. Jackson extended his hitting streak to six games by going 4-for-6 with two doubles and an RBI. Oh and Smith were both 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Kobernus was 2-for-6 with an RBI, senior third baseman Michael Brady was 2-for-4 with a double and Canha was 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored.

The Bears next play Long Beach State in the second game of the three-game series, Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. at Blair Field.

Home Runs:

Cal: Canha, solo home run in the second inning.

Long Beach State: None.