March 9, 2009

Box Score

NORMAN, OKLA. - Junior center fielder Brett Jackson led-off the game with a home run and sophomore first baseman Mark Canha also homered in the first inning. Both players hit home runs in the ninth inning as well, but that was about the highlight for the Golden Bears as the California baseball team (8-5) lost, 9-6, Monday at No. 15-ranked Oklahoma (13-3).

After Cal scored its two runs in the top of the first, the Sooners came back with two runs in the bottom of the first off of Bear sophomore right-hander Kevin Miller (0-1), who ended up throwing 6.0 innings with seven hits, five runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. Oklahoma jumped out to a 5-2 lead by scoring a run in the second inning and two runs in the third inning. Cal got within 5-3 in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles by junior catcher Dylan Tonneson and freshman left fielder Danny Oh off of Sooner starter J.R. Robinson (4.1 innings, seven hits, three runs, one walk, two strikeouts).

But Oklahoma ran away with the game by scoring four runs in the seventh inning off of Bear reliever Erik Johnson for a 9-3 lead. Cal did make a valiant effort in the top of the ninth when Jackson led-off the inning with his second home run of the day. Then after junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus singled, Canha hit his second roundtripper of the day, a two-run homer to left field. Unfortunately for the Bears, the Sooners were able get the next two outs for the 9-6 final.

Both teams finished with 11 hits. Jackson went 3-for-5 with two home runs, hitting his third home run in the last two games to extend his season hitting streak to all 13 contests this season. Canha was 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI, while Kobernus was 2-for-4.

Cal will next return home for a three-game series versus No. 24 Cal Poly, beginning Friday, March 13 at 2 p.m. at Evans Diamond.

Home Runs:

Cal: Brett Jackson, solo home run in the first inning. Mark Canha, solo home run in the first inning. Brett Jackson, solo home run in the ninth inning. Mark Canha, two-run homer in the ninth inning.

Oklahoma: Cameron Seitzer, solo home run in the third inning.