May 9, 2009

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Cal scored two runs in both the third and ninth innings, but it wasn't enough offense as the Golden Bears fell to UCLA, 9-4, Saturday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Cal, which got an RBI triple from junior second baseman Jeff Kobernus in the third inning and a two-run double by sophomore third baseman Austin Booker in the ninth inning, dropped to 21-27 overall and 7-16 in the conference. The Bruins, who sit in second place in the league and got a complete game from freshman right-hander Trevor Bauer, improved to 24-23 overall and 14-9 in conference. The two teams will play the rubber match Sunday as the Bears won Friday night's game, 3-2.

The losing pitcher for Cal was junior left-hander Todd Fitzgerald (0-1), who pitched 3.0 innings with five hits, three earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. Bauer improved his record 8-3 by throwing his third complete game of the season (9.0 innings, eight hits, four runs, one walk, 10 strikeouts).

UCLA struck first with four runs in the second inning off of Fitzgerald. Cody Decker led-off with a homer to left field, Niko Gallego had a two-run double down the right field line and Tyler Rahmatulla had an RBI single to center field.

Cal scored its first two runs in the top of the third inning when junior left fielder Rich Gorman walked to lead-off the inning and scored on Kobernus' triple to right center field. Kobernus then scored on sophomore shortstop Brian Guinn's RBI single to right field.

But UCLA came back with four runs in the sixth inning off of the Bears' junior left-hander Chris Petrini on Chris Giovinazzo's two-out, three-run double to center field, and Brett Krill's RBI double to center field. The Bruins added another run in the bottom of the eighth off of Cal freshman right-hander Logan Scott on Blair Dunlap's RBI single to left field

Down, 9-2, in the top of the ninth inning, junior designated hitter Blake Smith led-off the inning with a single off of Bauer and advanced to second when freshman catcher Chadd Krist was hit by a pinch. Then with two outs, Booker drove in Smith and Krist with a two-run double to left field. Smith and Kobernus finished with two hits apiece for the Bears.

Cal will next play UCLA in the third game of the three-game Pac-10 series, Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Home Runs:

Cal: None.

UCLA: Cody Decker, solo home run in the second inning.