May 24, 2011

Box Score

STOCKTON, CALIF. - Led by a 15-hit attack, including a 4-for-4 day from senior left fielder Austin Booker, and seven strong innings from senior right-hander Kevin Miller, the No. 23-ranked Cal baseball team defeated Pacific, 9-2, Tuesday night (May 24) at Klein Family Field in Stockton. The Golden Bears improved to 31-18 overall, while the Tigers dropped to 16-35.

Booker had a phenomenal game, going a perfect 4-for-4, including a home run in the second inning and an RBI single in the third inning. Miller improved his record to 6-4 by throwing 7.0 innings with six hits, two runs, no walks and seven strikeouts. Sophomore right-hander Logan Scott threw the final two innings with two hits, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts.

Other top hitters for the Bears included sophomore second baseman Tony Renda, junior right fielder Chad Bunting, sophomore third baseman Mitch Delfino and freshman center fielder Louie Lechich (from Stockton) with two hits apiece.

The Bears scored four runs in the top of the first inning off of Pacific starter Chris Larson (1-3, 1.0 inning, three hits, four runs) when Booker led-off the game with a single and later scored on a passed ball, junior catcher Chadd Krist had a fielder's choice RBI and Bunting had a two-run homer to left field.

Cal added another run in the second inning on Booker's home run to right center field - his first home run of the season and the second of his Bear career. Pacific came back with one run in the bottom of the second inning on Allen Riley's home run down the right field line off of Miller.

The Bears then plated three more runs in the third inning to make the score 8-1 on three straight RBI singles by sophomore designated hitter Vince Bruno, Booker and junior shortstop Marcus Semien.

Pacific scored a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Matthew Carvutto to put the score at 8-2, but Cal scored again in the sixth inning when Renda led off the frame with a triple to deep center field and scored on an error by Tiger center fielder Brett Christopher for the final 9-2 margin.

Cal will next host Bay Area rival Stanford for the last Pac-10 series of the year at Evans Diamond. Due to the Cardinal's schedule of finals, the Big Series will be a 2:30 p.m. start on Friday, May 27, and then a noon doubleheader on Saturday, May 28.