MORAGA, Calif. – Patience at the plate proved a virtue for host Saint Mary's as the Cal baseball team issued 11 walks, hit three batters and that led to a day filled with offense for the Gaels as the Bears dropped a 24-7 decision in a non-conference contest at Louis Guisto Field.
 
An explosive first inning saw the Bears take the first lead of the day before the Gaels seized it right back. A solo home run to right field by Jeffrey Mitchell, Jr. got Cal on the board but Saint Mary's responded with five runs of its own in the bottom of the inning on a grand slam by Kevin Milam and a solo home run by Edward Haus.
 
The Gaels extended their lead with two more in the third but Cal stemmed that momentum with another big fly, this time off the bat of local product Denis Karas. The Campolindo High graduate also went opposite field for his home run, launching it into the wind and putting it over the fence in right-center for a solo shot.
 
Saint Mary's (21-11) added five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull away further but Cal again kept its nose in the hunt with a big fifth inning of its own. RBI doubles by Mitchell, Karas and Tanner Dodson plated three runs, a run-scoring ground out added one more and another scored on an error to leave Cal down 12-7 midway through the game.
 
The Gaels responded again, plating three more in the sixth to re-establish momentum and adding nine more over the next two innings to finish the scoring. Tuesday's meeting was the first between the Bears and Gaels since 2010. Mitchell and Karas led Cal at the plate with two hits apiece.
 
Cal hops on a plane on Wednesday to travel to Utah for three Pac-12 games this week. Action begins Thursday at 10:30 a.m. (PT), continues Friday and wraps up Saturday. The Bears return to the Bay Area next Tuesday to take on Stanford at Sunken Diamond in a game that will be broadcast live by Pac-12 Networks.