March 1, 2009

Box Score

LONG BEACH, CALIF. - Bolstered by a 15-hit attack and solid pitching, the California baseball team earned its first road sweep since 2005, defeating host Long Beach State, 6-3, Sunday afternoon at Blair Field in Long Beach. The Golden Bears, who had defeated the 49ers, 11-8 Friday and 9-6 Saturday, capture their fifth game in a row to improve to 6-2 on the season. Long Beach State dropped to 2-5.

The last time Cal swept a road series was Feb. 18-20, 2005 at Long Beach State. Last season, the Bears' 2008 campaign ended with a 9-2 loss to the 49ers, May 31 at the NCAA Regional in Long Beach. Cal had swept the then-No. 5-ranked 49ers earlier (March 28-30; 6-1, 10-6, 4-3) in the '08 season.

Cal pounded out 15 hits Sunday, led by junior first baseman Blake Smith, who was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore right fielder Mark Canha (2-for-4, two-run double), senior third baseman Michael Brady (2-for-5, RBI), sophomore shortstop Brian Guinn (2-for-5) and freshman catcher Chadd Krist (2-for-5, double) added two hits apiece for the Bears. It was the first collegiate start and at-bats for Krist (Petaluma High School). Junior center fielder Brett Jackson had an RBI double to keep his hitting streak alive (eight games) and is leading the Bears with a .429 average.

The winning pitcher for Cal was junior left-handed reliever Michael Bugary (1-0), who replaced sophomore right-handed starter Brian Diemer (5.0 innings, five hits, one earned run, four walks) in the sixth and pitched 2.0 innings with three hits, one earned run, one walk and two strikeouts. Freshman right-hander Matt Flemer earned his first collegiate save, throwing the final 2.0 innings with no runs, no hits, no walks and three strikeouts. The losing pitcher for the Long Beach State was starter Jake Thompson (6.1 innings, 12 hits, four earned runs, three strikeouts).

The Bears scored a run in the third inning on back-to-back doubles to right field by Smith and junior catcher Dylan Tonneson. Cal again had back-to-back doubles for a run in the fourth inning. This time Krist doubled to left field and scored on Jackson's double to left.

Cal broke a 2-2 tie by scoring four runs in the seventh inning. Junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus doubled down the third base line and scored on Smith's RBI single. Canha later had a two-run double, followed by an RBI single by Brady.

The Bears will next host San Francisco, Tuesday, March 3 at 1:30 p.m. at Evans Diamond.

Home Runs:

Cal: None.

Long Beach State: None.