STANFORD, Calif. – A stretch of offense by No. 2-ranked Stanford in the middle innings left the Cal baseball team to chase a deficit in the late stages of its series finale at Sunken Diamond and the Bears couldn't get their bats going in time to make up the difference as they fell 5-2.
 
Cal (24-17, 10-11 Pac-12) entered the rubber match of its series against the host Cardinal looking to notch its fifth-straight Pac-12 series win and for two innings neither team was willing to budge on the scoreboard. Stanford (33-6, 14-4) broke through first with two runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.
 
The Bears started their comeback bid in the sixth, scoring their first run on an RBI single to right field by freshman Sam Wezniak. Two innings later, Jonah Davis launched home run No. 11 on the season, slamming an impressive drive off the batter's eye in center field to bring Cal within three at 5-2.
 
That represented the last of Cal's offense as the Bears couldn't muster one more rally against Stanford closer Jack Little. Cal out-hit the Cardinal, 7-6, but a pair of Stanford home runs ultimately made the difference. Tyrus Greene led the Bears with a 2-for-4 night.
 
On the mound, Aaron Shortridge drew the starting assignment for Cal and allowed five runs in five innings. Arman Sabouri continued his strong 2018 campaign with two scoreless innings. And, Erik Martinez pitched the ninth for the Bears and worked around a one-out, bases-loaded jam to post a zero of his own.
 
Cal returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts BYU in the final mid-week game of the Bears' 2018 campaign. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live by the Pac-12 Network. Cal returns to the road next weekend when it travels to Los Angeles for three games at USC.