BERKELEY – The Golden Bears put on a hitting exhibition during Wednesday's outing at Levine-Fricke Field.
 
California (22-18, 1-10 Pac-12) recorded 11 hits in an 8-0, five-inning victory against the visiting Saint Mary's Gaels. The decision clipped a three-game losing streak for the Bears as they posted the most single-game hits since March 17, when they also netted 11 in an 8-7, eight-inning slugfest at Utah, Cal's lone Pac-12 victory.
 
Cal's offense proved balanced, as eight players recorded at least one hit against SMC allowing the Bears to pounce on the Gaels in the third inning.  The Blue and Gold brought in three runs on five hits, highlighted by a three-run shot from freshman Makena Smith, who now leads the Bears with 27 RBI.
 
Mikayla Coehlo (1-for-3) led off with a sharp double through the left centerfield gap, followed by a hard-hit single to first base by Lauren Espalin and were brought home by Smith's third yarder of this season.
 
The Bears tacked on five more runs in the fifth thanks to a two-run error from the Gaels during freshman Alexandra Perez's at-bat.
 
Junior infielder Destiny Blueford (2-for-3) and Lindsay Rood (1-for-4) plated Jordan Fines and Perez, respectively on RBI doubles that moved things to 7-0, before Cal's clean-up hitter Espalin (3-for-3) sealed the early finish with a walk-off single to bring in Blueford.
 
Saint Mary's (7-27, 0-0 WCC) began the game with two base hits, but were unable to score after senior Kamalani Dung struck out the side to retire the Gaels through the middle three innings. The Waianae, Hawai'i native, did not give up another hit the last four innings en route to her 10th win of the season.
 
The Bears finish their long homestand with a Friday-Sunday series against the Oregon State Beavers. The games will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Networks with Game 1 slated for a 3 p.m. (PT) start.
 
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