March 7, 2009

Box Score

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - Paced by solid pitching from sophomore right-hander Brian Diemer, great relief pitching from junior left-hander Michael Bugary and home runs from junior Dylan Tonneson and Blake Smith, the Cal baseball team (8-3) avenged an extra-inning loss Friday with a 12-6 victory over No. 21-ranked Arkansas (8-2) Saturday in Fayetteville.

The Golden Bears pounded out 17 hits and jumped out to a 10-0 lead, including a six-run third inning, before the Razorbacks scored six runs in the sixth inning. Diemer won his first collegiate game by pitching 5.0 innings with two hits, no runs, six walks and one strikeout. After Cal reliever Stephen Pistoresi ran into problems in the sixth, Bugary earned his first save of his college career by throwing the final 3.2 innings with three hits, one run, one walk and a career-high seven strikeouts.

At the plate, Smith was 2-for-5 with a double, a two-run homer in the seventh inning and three RBI. Tonneson went 3-for-4 with a double, lead-off home run in the sixth inning and two RBI. Other players with multiple hits for the Bears included junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus (3-for-5, double), sophomore shortstop Brian Guinn (3-for-4), freshman left fielder Danny Oh (2-for-5, two RBI) and sophomore right fielder Mark Canha (2-for-6). Both Canha and junior center Brett Jackson (1-for-4) extended their season hitting streak to 11 games.

Cal will next play Arkansas in the third game of the three-game series March 8 at 1:05 p.m. CT. The Bears then travel to Norman, Okla. for a single game against the No. 16 Sooners on Monday, March 9 at 1 p.m. CT.

Home Runs:

Cal: Dylan Tonneson, solo home run in the sixth inning. Blake Smith, two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Arkansas: None.