SALT LAKE CITY – Grant Holman's first season of Division I baseball has been a balancing act, as the freshman has juggled pitching duties with being Cal's primary designated hitter.

Right now the 6-foot-6 right-hander is making his loudest statement in the batter's box. Holman drove a three-run homer to the opposite field in the second inning Friday to kickstart the Bears to an 8-4 victory over Utah in the opener of a three-game series at Smith's Ballpark.

Holman finished 2-for-4 with a double, the homer and two runs scored as part of a big offensive night for Cal (25-15, 11-8 Pac-12), which has now won 14 of its past 18.

Sophomore shortstop Sam Wezniak jacked a three-run shot of his own in the fourth, and the Bears opened up an 8-0 lead  to take control against the Utes (12-26, 4-18). Quentin Selma drove in a run on a ground-rule double and Korey Lee notched his 45^th RBI on a fielder's choice grounder.

Holman had his season interrupted by a strained lat muscle and was able to return quicker as a hitter than as a pitcher. He's still rounding into form on the mound, but he's been making a big impact in the bottom third of the batting order.

Over his past 10 games, Holman is hitting .441 (15-for-34) with eight RBI.

"I think just a lot of communication with the coaches has been big, them letting me know when I'm gonna pitch, when I'm gonna be in the lineup," Holman said. "Obviously every time I go out  there I'm just trying to do whatever I have to do to help contribute to the team."

The Utes cut into the 8-0 lead with four runs in the fifth, with Zack Moeller delivering an RBI double and Jayden Kiernan singling home two runs. 

But the Bears had already built their cushion by then. While others have created more buzz up and down the batting order, Wezniak has quietly been a terrific source of power in the bottom half of the lineup.

He went 3-for-4 with two runs Friday, and his eight homers are third on the team behind Korey Lee and Andrew Vaughn, who have 11 each.
Wezniak also had a great game defensively at shortstop Friday, including a terrific play in the second inning when he ranged up the middle to field a grounder and get the out at first.

"He has a big homer and plays outstanding defense," Cal head coach Mike Neu said of Wezniak's night. "The middle of our order doesn't have the greatest night on a Friday, but some of those guys at the bottom did a great job."

Arman Sabouri started for Cal and threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Sean Sullivan (2-1) going 1 1/3 innings in relief and getting the victory. All four Utah runs were credited to Sullivan but unearned. Jack Delmore, Jack Wolger and Rogelio Reyes combined for four scoreless innings to close it out.

Cal and Utah continue this three-game series with a 3 p.m.  (PT) game Saturday. Sunday's series finale has been moved up from a noon start to 11 a.m.