CORVALLIS, Ore. – California's opening weekend of Pac-12 play proved just how tightly-contested each game would be.
 
Heading into Sunday looking to gain the series win after splitting Friday (L, 10-5) and Saturday (W, 12-0 in six) with Oregon State, the No. 16 Bears (24-5-0, 1-2-0 Pac-12) could not find its place in the pitching circle or winners circle after going through three pitchers before dropping the series with a 8-3 loss to the Beavers.
 
The Bears played with several lineup changes after the Beavers  (19-10-0), 2-1-0 Pac-12) tied things up at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth against starting pitcher Zoe Conley, who was credited with the loss. After allowing two runners on base to open the fifth, Kamalani Dung stepped into the circle, but did not fare much better.
 
Dung gave up four walks and an RBI single before Conley was called back in during the same frame. The Beavers managed a two RBI double to provide the final score margin before the Bears could close out the inning.
 
Next up, a surprise appearance from freshman outfielder Mikayla Coelho in the circle would prove most effective late in the day as the Cal defense finally kept the Beavers off the boards, but the Bears were unable to recover.
 
"It was a disappointing weekend and we had a sub-average performance," said head coach Diane Ninemire. "We're going to have really get focused and pay attention to detail as we get ready for this week with Sac State and Arizona State. We're going to have to pull it together."
 
The Bears appeared ready to battle it out with the Beavers early on, taking a 3-1 lead headed into the middle of the fourth. Jazmyn Jackson posted her second two RBI single to bring home Marcella Kay and Karlee Sparacino to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second. Lindsay Rood added the Bears final run after she led off with a triple and was brought home on a ground out from Coelho in the fourth.
 
Cal went scoreless through the final three at-bats and the weekend trend that whoever scored first, wins. It marked the first time OSU has won a series over the Bears since 2007 when Cal was swept in Berkeley.
 
The Bears return home for a four-game stretch, with a midweek romp against Sacramento State at 4 p.m. (PT) and will host their first conference series Friday-Sunday against No. 10 Arizona State. It marks the first home appearance for the Cal since Feb. 14 when it downed UC Davis 1-0.
 
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