Salt Lake City, Utah – The No. 14 Golden Bears scored two runs in five different innings as Cal clinched the series against Utah with a 11-6 win on Saturday. Cal's 20-6 record and 7-1 mark in conference play is the best start the Bears have had since David Esquer became head coach in 2000.

Sophomore Lucas Erceg stayed hot at the plate with a towering two-run home run in the first inning to give the Bears an early lead. Erceg, senior Chris Paul and freshman Brett Cumberland combined for seven RBIs on the day.

Junior Ryan Mason started on the mound for the Bears and received plenty of run support on the afternoon. Mason threw five innings, giving up eight hits and three runs while striking out three.

After Erceg's home run in the top of the first, the Utes scored twice in the bottom half to tie the game. The Bears came back in the second inning to score two more runs, highlighted by an Erceg RBI double down the left field line.

The Utes added another run in the fourth inning when Josh Rose bunted in Wade Gulden to cut the deficit to one. 

In the fifth inning, junior Brian Celsi singled through the left side to bring in junior Mitchell Kranson and Cumberland. The Bears scored two more in the sixth after Paul singled to bring in sophomore Aaron Knapp and freshman Preston Grand Pre.

Cal added another pair of runs in the eighth inning when Cumberland doubled to right to drive in Paul and junior Sean Peters. 

The Bears finished up their scoring in the ninth inning after Grand Pre singled up the middle to score junior Grant Diede. 

The Utes rallied in the bottom of the ninth, scoring three runs, but it was too little, too late and the Bears escaped with an 11-6 win.

Sophomore Alex Schick and senior Chris Muse-Fischer combined to throw four innings in relief for Cal, allowing three runs on six hits while walking two. 

On Deck

Cal will go for the series sweep at Utah on Sunday with first pitch set for 2 p.m. The series finale will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks.