BERKELEY - Mitchell Kranson gave Cal a lift in the eighth inning with a two-run homer, but the Golden Bears were not able to generate any more offense as Cal baseball (20-8, 7-3) fell to Washington State (13-15, 2-8), 4-2, Thursday night at Evans Diamond.

The Bears had given up two unearned runs in the fifth inning and then the Cougars' Cameron Frost hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning off of Cal reliever Chris Muse-Fisher to give WSU a 4-0 advantage before Kranson's two-run shot.

Freshman right-hander Jeff Bain (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year, throwing 6.0 innings with seven hits, two unearned runs, no walks and four strikeouts.

Winning pitcher for the Cougars was left-hander reliever Matt Bower (3.0 innings, one hit, two runs, two walks, three strikeouts), who improved to 5-1. Ian Hamilton earned his seventh save of the season, pitching the ninth inning (one hit, one strikeout).

WSU and Cal will play the second game of the three-game series, Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Evans Diamond.