BERKELEY – A hot start at the plate was not enough as Cal dropped a 9-6 contest to Santa Clara on Tuesday evening at Evans Diamond. After scoring six runs across the first three innings, the Golden Bears went scoreless the rest of the way and stranded 15 total runners in the midweek loss.

Keshawn Ogans reached base safely four times to lead Cal (6-6), going 3-for-4 with two singles and a double while driving in two runs and scoring once. Cole Elvis also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Santa Clara (8-4) got on the scoreboard early, putting up a crooked number in the top of the first and second inning. SCU had four batters with multiple hits including, Coleman Brigman (2-for-4, three runs, two RBI), Lance Eamonn (2-for-3, three RBI, one home run). The Broncos finished the night with nine runs on 13 hits – six of them for extra bases.

Cal starter Sam Stoutenborough (0-1) got off to a rocky start when he hit Broncos' leadoff hitter JonJon Berring on an 0-1 pitch. Berring displayed his speed when he scored all the way from first on an errant pick-off attempt by Stoutenborough. SCU added a second run in the top of the first when Lance doubled over the head of left fielder Trevor Tishenkel knocking in a run.

In the home half of the first, the Bears took advantage of three straight walks issued by Bronco starter Drake Davis. Davis failed to record an out and was lifted in favor of reliever Blake Hammond who promptly issued two-run singles to Nathan Martorella and Keshawn Ogans.

The Broncos wasted no time retaking the lead in the top of the second. Dawson Brigman singled to right field, Cal Christofori tripled down the right-field line, and later scored on the 6-3 putout by Alex Lambeau.  Two batters later, C. Brigman struck again with a two-run home run over the left-field fence to put the Broncos back out front.

Cal added a run in the bottom of the fourth and tied it up in the third, but Santa Clara tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth and added an insurance run in the top of the sixth.

The two sides combined to use 15 pitchers on Tuesday evening. Earning the win for Santa Clara was reliever Cade Connolly (1-0). Connolly went 2.1 innings, scattering three hits without giving up a run, he walked one and struck out four. The save went to Cole Kitchen whole struck out two in 1.1 innings pitched, it was his first save of the year.

Stoutenborough took home the loss, he went three complete, surrendering eight hits, six runs, five earned with four strikeouts.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears open Pac-12 play when No. 16 Arizona comes to Evans Diamond. The three-game series begins on Friday, March 11 at 5:05 p.m. All three contests will be televised on Pac-12 Plus.
 
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