BERKELEY – Behind an 11-strikeout performance by
Steven Zobac and another high-powered offensive output, California punched its ticket to the inaugural Pac-12 baseball tournament with an 18-2 win against Utah on Friday night at Stu Gordon Stadium.
Cal entered the season-ending series needing two wins in order to clinch the final spot in the conference tournament and did so in dominant fashion, outscoring the Utes 31-3 in the first two contests combined. The Bears' tournament seed and first opponent have not yet been determined; they can earn the sixth seed at best with a third win against Utah and an Arizona State loss against Washington State on Saturday.
Cal improved to 27-25 overall and 13-16 in Pac-12 play with its season-best fifth consecutive win.
Zobac was nearly untouchable for the second straight week, striking out 11 of the 24 batters he faced across six shutout innings. The right-hander allowed three hits and issued a pair of walks, but never allowed a baserunner past second base before turning it over to the bullpen with a 7-0 advantage. Zobac (4-3) has struck out 23 batters in his past 13 innings pitched.
The Bears' bats picked up where they left off on Thursday night, plating seven runs on seven hits across the first two innings against Utah starter Jaden Harris (1-4).
Keshawn Ogans tallied the first of three two-out hits in the opening frame with a two-run double while
Caleb Lomavita's two-RBI single keyed Cal's three-run second inning.
Utah (26-26-1, 10-19) got two runs back in the seventh only to see Cal punch back with four more runs of its own in the home half, including a pair off the bat of
Hance Smith who doubled down the left-field line for one of his two hits in the evening. The Bears laid it on with a seven-run eighth frame;
Rodney Green Jr. and
Cole Elvis – who nearly cleared the RSF building past left field with a towering home run – hit back-to-back long balls to jumpstart the big inning.
Cal finished with 18 hits, tied for its second most this season. Elvis (3-for-5) and
Dom Souto (3-for-5) led the way with three hits apiece while Green Jr. (2-for-5) tallied a team-high four RBIs.
Nathan Martorella (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games and
Dylan Beavers (1-for-3) drew three walks and tied a career best with four runs scored.
Ian May and
Matt Lozovoy both pitched one scoreless inning of relief.
UP NEXT
Cal and Utah will clash once more in the regular-season finale at noon Saturday at Stu Gordon Stadium.
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