BERKELEY – In a game that had several twists, No. 13 Cal ended up falling to No. 6-ranked Arizona State, 5-3, when the Sun Devils' Trever Allen hit a two-run homer to left field in the top of the ninth off of Golden Bear closer Dylan Nelson. Cal (27-15, 13-9) had made an impressive comeback after trailing 3-0 in the top of the fifth. Senior first baseman Chris Paul hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning, and in the seventh inning junior right fielder Devin Pearson tied the game with a two-out RBI single to right.

“We are not going to let this loss discourage us,” said Cal coach David Esquer. “Our team is going to continue to battle and play with confidence.”

After essentially being shut down by Cal starter Daulton Jefferies (6.0 innings, four hits, three runs, no walks, eight strikeouts) through the first four innings, ASU scored three times in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Johnny Sewald and a two-run double by Jake Peevyhouse.

But Cal came back in the bottom of fifth when sophomore third baseman Lucas Erceg had a one-out single and then scored on Paul's two-run shot over the left center field fence.

Then the Bears were able to tie the contest in the seventh inning on Pearson's RBI single that scored Paul, who had a one-out bunt single and had advanced to second base on freshman catcher Brett Cumberland's single.

But, with the score tied, 3-3, in the top of the ninth, Nelson (1-1) gave up a one-out single to Joey Bielek before yielding the game-winning homer to Allen.

Besides Paul's two hits and two RBI, Pearson was 4-for-5 with an RBI and freshman shortstop Preston Grand Pre was 3-for-5. The Bears out-hit the Sun Devils, 15-7.

The Bears will next host Arizona State in the second game of the three-game Pac-12 series, Saturday, May 2 at 6 p.m. at Evans Diamond. The two teams play the final game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.