TUCSON, Ariz. – A series-ending loss Sunday afternoon hardly put a damper on another encouraging weekend for the Cal baseball team.
The Bears took two of three from Arizona on the road, extending an impressive midseason run that began with back-to-back sweeps at home.
Looking to break out the brooms again Sunday, Cal couldn't take advantage of a multitude of base runners in a 4-2 defeat at Hi Corbett Field.
Cameron Eden enjoyed a big game from the leadoff spot, going 4-for-5 with a home run, but the Bears left 12 men on base and lost for the first time after eight consecutive victories.
That eight-game winning streak was Cal's longest in three seasons, and throughout its duration, the Bears combined all elements of the game for sustained periods – prolific offense, consistent pitching and some standout defensive work.
"That's huge for us," Eden said of taking the road series from Arizona. "Winning on the road is a big part of getting to where we want to be."
That would be the postseason, and if Cal can keep bunching together series wins, the Bears will put themselves in position for a berth in the NCAA Regionals. Next weekend will bring a big test with a three-game series at UCLA, which entered this weekend as the No. 1 team in the country.
But the Bears (19-12, 7-5 Pac-12) have reason to feel confident entering that series, which begins Thursday night and concludes Saturday.
An effective weekend pitching rotation has solidified, with Saturday starter
Jared Horn in particular emerging as a shutdown guy. Offensively, Cal has developed into one of the Pac-12's most potent lineups, with power and run-producing ability up and down the batting order. The top of the lineup features Eden and 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner
Andrew Vaughn, a mix of power and speed in the middle of the order with
Korey Lee,
Max Flower,
Darren Baker and
Sam Wezniak, and a No. 9 hitter in
Quentin Selma who entered Sunday hitting .348, second on the team behind Vaughn's .359.
Eden, a junior center fielder, has shined recently, notching four-hit games in two of the past four contests. He said it took time early in the season getting used to the leadoff spot, though his numbers wouldn't suggest it.
"Nothing really changes for me honestly," Eden said. "I still go up there trying to put the bat on the ball and get on base for the guys behind me."
