BERKELEY – Grant Holman and Nathan Martorella both went deep and California staged a sixth-inning comeback to defeat San Jose State, 9-8, on Tuesday night at Evans Diamond.
 
After falling behind, 7-4, in the top of the sixth, Cal (5-11) put together its own offensive outburst with four runs in the home half of the frame to reclaim an 8-7 lead that wouldn't lose. Freshmen Vaughn Mauterer (1-1) and Joseph King earned their first collegiate win and save, respectively, as they combined to toss the final four innings and hold the visiting Spartans to just one run over that span.
 
Both teams traded home runs in the first inning with the Bears delivering the bigger blow on a two-run, opposite-field long ball by Holman. San Jose State quickly tied it, 2-2, in the top of the second after forcing the first of Cal's five pitching changes on the night. Nick Proctor, who relieved starter Mitchell Scott, surrendered a sacrifice fly to center field, but escaped a jam by stranding two of the three inherited runners.
 
A leadoff triple by Max Flower – who went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs and a walk – in the fourth led Cal's third run; Steven Zobac plated him on a groundout to first base one at bat later. Martorella added to the lead with his third home run in the last four games the next inning, making it a 4-2 in favor of Cal.
 
Cal's only deficit of the night came in the sixth when the Spartans scored five runs with six consecutive singles to open the inning. It was short-lived, however, as the Bears' first five batters reached base safely in the bottom of the inning. Consecutive singles by Darren Baker and Flower were followed by a walk issued to Zobac, loading the bases. Brandon McIlwain then promptly delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single that chopped over the head of San Jose State's third baseman, making it a 7-6 deficit.
 
The rally ensued as Ethan Cloyd tallied a pinch-hit single the next at bat while McIlwain advanced to third on a throwing error. That set up a sacrifice fly opportunity for Dylan Beavers, who drove in McIlwain to tie the game. Cal took regained the lead for the final time shortly after when Martorella singled home Cloyd, making it an 8-7 Bears advantage.
 
Both teams scored once more apiece; Keshawn Ogans was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh before San Jose State played small ball with a safety squeeze bunt in the eighth to cut Cal's lead to 9-8.
 
PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Vaughn Mauterer (1-1)
Save: Joseph King (1)
Loss: Josh Caldwell (0-1)
 
NOTABLES

• Cal's six pitchers struck out a combined 10 batters. Four Bears had two strikeouts apiece.
• After being held from the starting lineup for two games (March 1-4), Nathan Martorella has continued to swing a hot bat with six hits, including three home runs, in his last four games. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI on Tuesday.
• Grant Holman left the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when he was hit in the face by a pitch. He was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. The home run was his first of the season.
• Max Flower's three hits are a season-best. Both of his multi-hit performances have come in the last three games.
• Cal's 11 hits are tied for its third most the season. It's also the fourth time that the Bears have recorded 10-plus hits in a game this year.

UP NEXT
Cal opens Pac-12 Conference play at Washington State this weekend, March 13-15. The series begins at 3 p.m. (PT) on Friday, March 13 in Pullman, Wash. at Bailey-Brayton Field.
 
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